Baghdad: Iraq’s water reserves have reached an outstanding condition, with the Ministry of Water Resources announcing that the filling rates of the country’s main dams are currently between 70 and 80 percent.
According to Iraqi News Agency, the Ministry’s spokesman, Khalid Shamal, highlighted that the water storage situation is excellent across all dams and lakes. The volume of water storage at the end of the spring and snow melt season reached approximately 34 billion cubic meters, marking a significant improvement from the previous year, which began with just 5 billion cubic meters-one of the lowest levels recorded since 1934.
Shamal noted that the filling rates in key dams such as the Mosul Dam, Dokan, and Darbandikhan Dam range between 70 and 80 percent. He emphasized the importance of maintaining an appropriate storage vacuum to accommodate any future water revenues. Despite the positive storage levels, challenges persist, including high temperatures, increased evaporation rates, and violations of water quotas by some farmers and government institutions.
He further explained that over 70 percent of Iraq’s water inflows originate from neighboring countries, primarily Turkey, followed by Iran and Syria. Current indicators for water inflows are deemed average to good, providing a positive outlook. The Prime Minister’s office is actively supporting efforts to secure water supplies through ongoing communication with neighboring nations.
The Ministry is engaged in a framework agreement with Turkey to implement pioneering irrigation projects, including closed irrigation systems and water transfer via pipelines. Additionally, decisive measures are being taken to address water quota violations through strict rotation and rationing systems, in collaboration with security forces and the Supreme Judicial Council. Awareness campaigns are also being conducted in coordination with scientific institutions and civil society organizations to minimize water waste.
Water distribution across governorates is managed through the National Center for Water Resources Management, linked to the Minister of Water Resources, ensuring equitable distribution to address scarcity or flood situations. The Ministry balances the needs and available resources to secure water for drinking, domestic, industrial, and environmental uses, implementing agricultural plans, revitalizing marshes, and relying on groundwater to reduce pressure on surface water.
Maintenance work on dams and weirs is ongoing, with all structures subject to periodic inspections and rehabilitation under the supervision of the General Authority for Dams and Reservoirs. This includes maintenance at the Mosul, Haditha, Dokan, Darbandikhan, Al-Adhaim, Samarra, Kut, Hindiya, and Amara dams to ensure their safety and operational efficiency according to approved designs and standards.