TITLE:
Causes of Water Resources Scarcity in Iraq and Possible Solutions
AUTHORS:
Nadhir Al-Ansari, Nasrat Adamo, Ali Hussain Hachem, Varoujan Sissakian, Jan Laue, Salwan Ali Abed
KEYWORDS:
Tigris River, Euphrates River, Iraq
JOURNAL NAME:
Engineering,
Vol.15 No.9,
September
11,
2023
ABSTRACT: Iraq relies in its water resources on the waters of the Tigris and
Euphrates and their tributaries. The country is located in the
lower part of the catchment area of these rivers. The long-term
average annual flow that enters Iraq from these rivers is about 30 BCM from the
Euphrates, 21.2 BCM from the Tigris, 24.78 BCM from tributaries and 7 BCM from
side valleys between Iraq and Iran. Now, the
flow of these rivers is decreasing due to climate change and hydrological projects
established in the upper parts of the catchment. It is indicated that
precipitation will decrease by 15% - 25% during this century and that
means that the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers will be reduced by 29% -
73%. This will cause a grave depletion of groundwater resources. Türkiye is trying to finish building 22 dams and 19 hydropower stations. Iran built 12
dams and diverted the flow of some tributaries inside Iran and blocked all the
valleys that contribute water from its land to Iraq. For these reasons, Iraq is
experiencing shortages in its water resources and there is some sort of
friction and conflict between riparian countries within the Tigris and
Euphrates basins because each country tries to secure its water resources. In
this research, the factors affecting the hydro politics within these basins are
water scarcity, climate change and hydrological projects, population growth
rate, energy issues, water mismanagement, economic changes, expansions of
projects and technology, political issues, international water laws and public
awareness. In case the situation remains as
it is, Iraq will experience many problems in health, environment,
economy, and security. To solve the problem of water scarcity in Iraq, two
parallel lines of action are to be considered. These are: 1) Reach agreements
with Riparian Parties; 2) Develop a long-term
strategy that should take the following: a) Rehabilitating of existing dams,
barrages & pump stations, b) Improving the efficiency of diversion and
supply, c) Using of nonconventional water
resources, d) Irrigation modernization using suitable techniques, e)
Developing a public awareness program, f) Developing human resources program and establishing an agenda for
training, g) Developing an agri- cultural plan that takes into consideration the
possibility of reducing crops that consume a lot of
water.