Former Parliamentary Agriculture and Water Committee member Thaer al-Jubouri said Iraq’s water reserves have now exceeded 31 billion cubic meters, providing some relief compared to last year. However, he warned that the threat of drought still remains and requires long-term planning.
Al-Jubouri explained that water reserves across the country’s dams and provinces have reached more than 31 billion cubic meters, a significant improvement from last year when reserves in many major and strategic dams had fallen to critical levels.
He said recent rainfall and flooding helped boost water storage considerably, but stressed that this should not be seen as the end of Iraq’s water challenges. According to him, drought remains a serious issue that could affect the country in the future.
He noted that the current reserves will help delay the effects of the drought crisis for some time, but Iraq must begin implementing a comprehensive national strategy to prepare for severe drought seasons that may occur in the coming years.
Al-Jubouri pointed to studies showing that climate change and the construction of more dams by neighboring countries on major rivers could reduce the amount of water flowing into Iraq. He emphasized the importance of learning from previous drought experiences and improving water management practices.
He also highlighted the need to modernize the agricultural sector by replacing traditional irrigation methods with advanced irrigation technologies. He said these modern systems can reduce water consumption by as much as 70%, helping Iraq better protect its water resources and strengthen its ability to face future drought conditions.
