Diwaniyah: The Qadisiyah Environment Directorate has initiated a campaign aimed at raising awareness about the risks associated with tampering with rainwater drainage networks. The campaign addresses concerns about the illegal practice of connecting these networks to sewage systems and the improper discharge of waste materials, such as domestic wastewater, car wash sludge, and waste from workshops and shops, into rivers.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Mukhlid Hakim, the Director of the Diwaniyah Environment Department, emphasized the gravity of these practices. He stated, "These practices are not merely legal violations, but pose an environmental and health hazard to the entire community. Rainwater drainage networks are specifically designed to transport rainwater only and discharge it directly into rivers without treatment. Connecting sewage to them leads to the transfer of pollutants into water resources."

Hakim further elaborated that discharging sewage into rivers is a punishable offense under the Environmental Protection and Improvement Law No. (27) of 2009. This law clearly prohibits the connection or discharge of sewage from residential buildings, factories, and other activities into the rainwater drainage networks or water bodies. The campaign aims to educate the public on these laws and the potential consequences of violating them, as well as to promote the protection of water resources and public health.