After decades of armed conflicts, invasion and wars, Iraq is now facing a non-traditional threat that might affect even more people than those conflicts could ever do. Despite having two of the world’s great rivers flowing through the country, the rapidly decreasing level of fresh water is ringing alarms bells in Iraq. The struggle for fresh water poses an even greater threat than war.
The Rivers Euphrates and Tigris are experiencing reduced water flow, which in turn affects the water level in Iraq’s third river, the Shatt Al-Arab, formed at the confluence of the two main rivers in southern Iraq. The Tigris, which was once one of the main sources of fresh water, now has just a relatively small flow. Multiple dam projects at the Turkish end of the Tigris largely reduce the amount of water in the river even before it enters Iraq. While traversing through Turkiye and Syria, the Euphrates encounters the same issue; the water level has dropped to a dangerously low level, with fears of it drying out completely this continues unchecked. Untreated waste from the oil industry pollute the already low level of water in both rivers, as well as the Shatt Al-Arab.
Oil plays an important role in Iraq’s economy; it is the main source of revenue for the state.
This makes it hard for the government to pass any legislation or regulation that might go against the interests of the oil companies, especially in the private sector. As the oil sector is thriving, the availability of fresh water for the Iraqi people is falling to a dangerous low. Oil companies need water to maintain pressure inside their wells, which is essential for its extraction. Legally, Iraq only permits the use of seawater for this process, but oil companies often bypass the law and use fresh water from nearby reserves, such as major rivers, to reduce filtration and transportation costs, thereby depleting the local population’s access to drinkable water. For every barrel of oil to be extracted, two barrels of water need to be pumped into the well. Millions of barrels of fresh water are used in this way, ultimately wasting it without any opposition. Furthermore, a dedicated police department safeguards these oil companies and their interests, helping to manage public resentment.
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The land between the Euphrates and Tigris is very fertile and is recognised as the cradle of human civilisation. While the shortage of fresh water for irrigation purposes affects agricultural production in Iraq, in the south of the country sea water is moving further inland due to the decreasing level of fresh water in the Shatt Al-Arab, which also affects cultivation in the surrounding areas.
Basra relies on the Shatt Al-Arab for its water needs, and is also experiencing an acute water shortage. This city, which was once known as the Venice of Iraq with its extensive network of canals, is now facing a catastrophic water problem. Sewage and other city waste pollutes the canals. In 2018, contaminated water hospitalised over 100,000 people, leading to widespread unrest in Iraq, particularly in Basra.
Climate change is also adding to the severity of the problem.
Iraq is among the countries most affected by changing weather patterns reducing the country’s average rainfall. According to Anthony Zielicki, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s Interim Country Director in Iraq in 2023, “Iraq’s climate is changing faster than people can adapt.” The rising average temperature in Iraq is not only making the country more challenging to live in, but is also leading to the evaporation of already scarce fresh water from rivers and other sources. This all has a knock-on effect on agriculture, as farmers have come to rely on rain to compensate for the low level of fresh water in the rivers.
Moreover, traditional irrigation techniques lead to the loss of already depleted water sources. In 2021, Iraq faced one of the worst droughts in its recent history, demonstrating the severity of the country’s water problem. The reduced availability of water is also creating tensions between different communities. Water shortages may well lead to more armed conflicts in an already volatile land.
The UN is working with the government of Iraq to address the water shortage. Numerous water filtration plants have been installed in the cities, ensuring that hundreds of thousands of people have access to safe drinking water.
To conserve the remaining water resources, however, the government will need to negotiate with the oil industry or regulate its water usage. Farmers should also be taken on board to address the need for water for agricultural lands and livestock and the upgrade of irrigation systems. Funds must be raised and then allocated to the budget for water management. To ensure its accessibility for future generations, officials must prioritise and plan for the water issue, allocate resources and implement sound water management strategies.
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