 During the 2007 water crisis of Ankara, Gökçek suggested the water be transported from the Kızılırmak river.The Department of Environmental Engineering of Middle East Technical University tested the water and concluded that the samples contained toxins and were not suitable for drinking.Days after the report, Gökçek's office fined the university 1.8 million liras on charges that have been described as retribution for the report.