Water pollution threatens Iraq’s rivers
Iraq’s vital waterways, the Tigris and Euphrates, once symbols of the country’s prosperity, now face a dire threat from water pollution exacerbated by drought and upstream dam construction. These iconic rivers are drowning in a cocktail of pollutants ranging from sewage to medical waste, posing a severe risk to public health and exacerbating an already precarious situation for a populace where half lack access to safe drinking water, as per UN estimates.
Khaled Shamal, spokesperson for Iraq’s Ministry of Water Resources, highlighted the alarming trend where governmental institutions themselves contribute significantly to the pollution crisis. He noted the disheartening reality of sewage networks channeling vast quantities of untreated or minimally treated wastewater directly into the rivers, alongside medical facilities irresponsibly disposing of hazardous waste into these water bodies.
The repercussions of water pollution extend beyond health concerns, reflecting broader systemic issues stemming from decades of conflict, mismanagement, and corruption. Industrial activities such as petrochemical production, power generation, and agricultural runoff laden with fertilizers further compound the contamination, transforming Iraq’s once pristine rivers into toxic arteries.
Visible evidence of this environmental degradation has emerged, with reports of green-hued discharges fouling the Diyala River in Baghdad’s eastern suburbs, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Ali Ayoub, a water specialist from UNICEF, emphasized the strain on Baghdad’s water treatment infrastructure, which operates at double its intended capacity due to rapid urban population growth outpacing infrastructure development.
Despite these challenges, efforts to mitigate water pollution are underway. The Iraqi government has enacted measures to scrutinize and restrict projects that could contribute to pollution while prioritizing water treatment provisions. Collaborative initiatives with international partners like UNICEF have led to the establishment of wastewater treatment facilities, such as the one recently inaugurated at Baghdad’s Medical City, offering a ray of hope amid the crisis.
Yet, the impact of water pollution reverberates far beyond urban centers, disproportionately affecting rural communities in Iraq’s southern provinces. Residents like Hassan Zouri from Dhi Qar lament the loss of a once reliable water source, now contaminated beyond use. With the specter of climate change exacerbating water scarcity and upstream dam constructions further diminishing water flow, Iraq faces an urgent imperative to confront and mitigate the looming threat posed by water pollution to its rivers and its people’s well-being.
