Iraq is experiencing one of its driest years on record since 1933, with the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers witnessing a significant drop in water levels due to poor rainfall and upstream restrictions.
The southern region of Basra, home to nearly 3.5 million people, remains Iraq’s most water-scarce and climate-vulnerable area, severely impacted by inadequate water management.
Residents like Hasan Raykan are forced to travel several kilometers daily to secure clean water, with the allocated amount barely covering their family’s needs.
“I have to wake up early and leave my work and stand in long queues to bring [water] home,” Raykan told newsmen.
“In many cases, we have to tighten ratios between livestock and household use. The seawater near our homes is polluted and causes skin diseases.”
The quality of seawater has been further degraded by oil spills, agricultural runoff, and sewage discharge, exacerbating the water crisis.
The Mihayla desalination station in Abul Khaseeb district has been operating for over a year, producing nearly 72,000 cubic meters of treated water daily.
“Salinity in the Shatt Al-Arab River has reached nearly 40,000 total dissolved solids. After desalination, the refuse is returned to the river,” said Sa’dun Abbud, senior engineer at the Mihayla Water Desalination Station.
Experts warn that the water crisis will worsen unless there is urgent government action. “Basra has lost 26 to 30 diverse marine species due to saltwater intrusion,” said Alaa Al-Badrani, a water expert. “This has created a new, hybrid environment unsuitable for both freshwater and seawater species. With salinity levels rising, the water is also unfit for agriculture.”
The crisis is attributed to upstream restrictions and domestic neglect, with corruption and self-interest among Iraq’s political elite weakening institutional capacity.
“While reduced rainfall and rising temperatures are global challenges, Iraq’s water crisis is also the result of upstream restrictions and domestic neglect,” wrote Hayder Al-Shakeri, research fellow in the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House.
To resolve the crisis, reforms are needed at both domestic and regional levels.
“Domestically, Iraq should establish a national water diplomacy body with a clear mandate to negotiate, monitor flows, and to coordinate between ministries, governorates, and the Kurdistan region,” noted Al-Shakeri.
The United Nations has also highlighted the severity of Iraq’s water crisis, projecting that by 2035, the country will only meet 15% of its water needs unless significant changes are made. The international community’s support and regional cooperation will be crucial in addressing Iraq’s urgent water challenges.