Iraq's Lakes: Polluted Water Crisis

Iraq's lakes have been affected by a multitude of factors, including water scarcity, drought, dam management, conflict, and pollution. In recent years, several of Iraq's largest lakes have experienced fluctuating water levels, with some shrinking abruptly and others showing signs of refilling. The country also faces water quality issues, including salinity and the concentration of pollutants in the water, leading to waterborne diseases and health problems. The accumulation of pollutants in Iraq's lakes is caused by municipal, industrial, and agricultural activities, as well as improper waste disposal and sewage systems. These factors have contributed to the deterioration of water quality and the depletion of water supplies in Iraq's lakes, posing urgent environmental and public health challenges.

Water pollution in Iraq is caused by municipal, industrial and agricultural activities

Iraq is facing two major water quality issues: salinity and the concentration of pollutants. The concentration of pollutants in the water is caused by municipal, industrial, and agricultural activities that introduce return flows into freshwater sources.

Municipal Activities

Decades of war and sanctions have resulted in crumbling basic infrastructure, which has negatively impacted Iraq's environment. Reduced stream flows, polluted and dropping groundwater tables, degraded ecosystems, habitat loss, and a reduction in biodiversity have damaged the country, including the Mesopotamian Marshes. The destruction of military and industrial infrastructure has released heavy metals and other hazardous substances into the air, soil, and groundwater. Additionally, rural areas are particularly affected by a lack of access to safe water. Children in rural areas are twice as likely to drink untreated water, and military operations have left unexploded ordnance and land mines, which are considered environmental hazards due to their high concentrations of toxic metals.

Industrial Activities

Industrial activities have contributed to water pollution in Iraq, particularly in the Kurdistan region. Oil spills and the lack of water treatment facilities at refineries have led to ecological degradation and negatively impacted the population's access to safe water. The destruction of industrial infrastructure during wars has also released hazardous substances, further exacerbating the problem.

Agricultural Activities

Agricultural activities have led to a progressive increase in the salinity of the waters of the Euphrates, Tigris, and other rivers in Iraq. Development along these waterways, both inside and outside Iraq, contributes to rising levels of contaminants. Additionally, economic development and population growth are exacerbating factors. Climate change has resulted in less rain for agriculture, further impacting the quality of freshwater reserves.

Waterborne diseases are widespread in Iraq due to polluted drinking water supplies

Iraq's water quality is facing two major issues: salinity and the concentration of pollutants. The latter is caused by municipal, industrial, and agricultural activities that introduce return flows into freshwater sources. The development of agriculture along the Euphrates and Tigris watersheds, both inside and outside Iraq, is causing a progressive increase in the salinity of the waters of the Euphrates, Tigris, and other Iraqi rivers.

Economic development and population growth are also contributing to rising levels of various contaminants. Waterways in Iraq suffer from high levels of pollution from solid waste, including household and industrial rubbish, as well as rubble from damaged buildings in conflict-affected areas. The country's water scarcity is exacerbated by a multitude of factors, including droughts, dam management, and conflict.

The Iraqi government has struggled to address these issues effectively. In 2015, the Ministry of Environment was subsumed into the Ministry of Health, and it was only in early 2022 that the procedure to separate the two ministries was initiated again. Meanwhile, unauthorized lakes and fish farms continue to proliferate, with Iranian-backed militias and powerful political forces illegally channeling water from Iraq's lakes for their own enterprises.

As a result of these challenges, waterborne diseases are widespread in Iraq. Historically, the most commonly reported diseases in the Middle East were diarrhea, hepatitis, schistosomiasis, and leishmaniasis, with the majority being waterborne. Throughout Iraq, typhoid, paratyphoid, dysentery, diarrhea, cholera, enteritis, trichuriasis, enterobiasis, and strongyloidiasis have frequently occurred. The population's exposure to contaminated water has also led to continuing health issues, including enteric diseases and increases in many types of cancer.

The combination of low river runoff, high salinity, and increased levels of agricultural and industrial pollution, as well as sewage in Basra, have repeatedly caused health crises in the city. The deterioration in water quality is further exacerbated by droughts, contributing to the desertification of agricultural land.

Sewage disposal facilities in Iraq are primitive, with cesspits being common

Iraq is a desert country with access to large rivers and an extensive aquifer. However, these water sources have been overdrawn for domestic, industrial, and agricultural use. The flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers has diminished, allowing seawater intrusion from the Persian Gulf as far as Basra. The water distribution systems are overloaded, and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) need upgrading.

Freshwater sources in Iraq are polluted by a lack of sanitation, agricultural runoff, and household and industrial waste. For example, vegetables are irrigated with sewage water, leading to episodes of bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases. There has also been an increase in many types of cancer since the early 1990s, which could be attributed to exposure to depleted uranium in the environment arising from conflict in Iraq, particularly during the Iraq War.

The rapid increase in waste generation in Iraq has put a tremendous strain on the country's waste handling infrastructure, which has been heavily damaged by decades of conflict and mismanagement. In the absence of modern and efficient waste handling and disposal infrastructure, most wastes are disposed of in unregulated landfills across Iraq, with little or no concern for human health and the environment. Spontaneous fires, groundwater contamination, surface water pollution, and large-scale greenhouse gas emissions have been the hallmarks of Iraqi landfills.

The sewerage systems in Iraqi cities served just over 25% of the population before the Gulf War. Septic tanks were used by 50% of people, and the remaining 25% had no means of safe sewage disposal. The 23 sewerage treatment plants (STPs) were functioning very efficiently. However, after the Gulf War, the entire system broke down due to a lack of maintenance, spare parts, and skilled staff.

The Iraqi government has developed a National Solid Waste Management Plan (NSWMP) with the collaboration of international waste management specialists. The plan includes building 33 environmentally engineered landfills with a capacity of 600 million m3 across all 18 governorates in Iraq by 2027. The Iraqi Ministry of Environment has also started its own comprehensive development program to improve the environmental situation in Iraq. The Ministry of Municipalities and Public Work, in collaboration with international agencies like UN Habitat, USAID, UNICEF, and the EU, is developing and implementing solid waste management master plans in several Iraqi governorates, including Kirkuk, Anbar, Basra, and Dohuk.

Water scarcity in Iraq is exacerbated by upstream dams in Turkey, Syria and Iran

Water scarcity is a critical issue in Iraq, with severe implications for agriculture, public health, and regional stability. The country's water infrastructure is outdated and poorly maintained, and many areas lack access to safe drinking water. Iraq's water scarcity is exacerbated by upstream damming in Turkey, Syria, and Iran, as well as by internal factors such as conflict, drought, and inadequate water management practices.

Turkey's ongoing dam projects, particularly its GAP dam-building project, have received much attention. The project includes 22 dams and 19 power plants, with the recent addition of the large Ilisu Dam on the Tigris River, which gives the Turkish government significant control over water flows into Iraq. In addition, Turkey's construction of hundreds of dams on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which Iraq relies on for its water supply, has significantly reduced downstream water flow. This has led to increased tensions with Iraq, as Turkey uses water as a tool to pressure Iraq to pursue its economic, political, and security goals.

Syria's water resources are also severely depleted due to over-extraction, pollution, and the impact of war on infrastructure. The construction of large dams and irrigation systems in Syria has further reduced water flow downstream, contributing to conflicts within Iraq and with its neighbors.

Iran's water projects, though less publicized, are notable for their impact on Iraq. In the last three decades, the Iranian government has contracted for the construction of 600 dams nationwide, including the Daryan Dam, which transfers Iraq-bound water back into Iran. Iran, like Turkey, uses water as a tool to exert political pressure on Iraq.

In addition to the external factors of upstream damming, Iraq's water scarcity is influenced by internal factors such as conflict, drought, and inadequate water management practices. The expansion of unlicensed fish farms and agricultural areas has further depleted Iraq's lakes and rivers, with Iranian-backed militias and powerful political forces diverting water for their own enterprises. Furthermore, the effects of climate change and desertification have aggravated water shortages, with Iraq losing arable land annually.

War, drought and dam management impact water supply in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers

Iraq's water bodies, including its lakes, are essential for the country's economy and population distribution. However, over the years, several factors have impacted the water levels in Iraq's lakes and rivers, including the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. War, drought, and dam management have been key influences on water supply in these vital waterways.

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers, flowing through Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, provide abundant water resources to countries like Iraq, which is largely desert. The rivers are fed by snowmelt from the Taurus Mountains and Armenian highlands in Turkey, as well as the Zagros Mountains in Iran. This snowmelt, typically occurring between April and June, fills the reservoirs of dams along the rivers, which serve to prevent flooding, generate hydropower, and supply irrigation canals.

However, the impact of war, drought, and dam management on these water sources cannot be understated. Fast-paced conflicts in the Middle East can disrupt water management and supply, particularly on the dams and barrages along the Tigris and Euphrates. These waterways have experienced threats and changes in sovereignty, affecting the water supply downstream. For example, the militant capture of the Mosul Dam in August 2014 directly influenced the Tigris-Euphrates water supply.

Droughts have also played a significant role in reducing water levels. Precipitation along the Tigris and Euphrates has declined, with researchers suggesting that the region has been under a prolonged drought since 1999. The most serious periods of low precipitation occurred during 1998–2000, 2007–2009, and 2013–2014. This has resulted in sharp decreases in the water supply in reservoirs, as seen in the fluctuating water levels of Iraq's lakes, such as Milh and Habbaniyah, which have experienced substantial declines.

Additionally, dam management practices can significantly alter water levels downstream. Changes in water storage and release patterns upstream at dams along the Euphrates River, for instance, have contributed to varying water levels. The construction of unauthorized lakes for irrigation and fish farming purposes has also impacted the water supply. While dams are essential for flood control and water storage, the combination of upstream dam management, drought, and conflict has created a challenging situation for sustainable water management in Iraq.

Frequently asked questions