Iraqi MP Mudhar Al-Karawi said on Monday that new water harvesting projects are planned in six governorates, with full details to be announced after the next government is formed.
He explained that the heavy rains in March helped improve the water situation, adding around 6 billion cubic meters to dam storage across Iraq. But he warned that this does not mean the drought problem is over.
According to him, the risk of drought is still real. One of the main reasons is the ongoing drop in water flow from key rivers like the Tigris River and the Euphrates River in recent years.
Al-Karawi said water harvesting projects are an important step to deal with this challenge. These projects aim to collect and store rainwater and floodwater in a way that can be used later, especially during dry periods.
He added that the projects could help strengthen Iraq’s water reserves and reduce the impact of future droughts.
However, he also pointed out that these plans will require significant funding. He called for cooperation with international experts and organizations that specialize in drought management to make sure the projects are effective.
If carried out properly, he said these projects could secure between one and two billion cubic meters of water—an important запас for areas that suffer the most from water shortages.
In short, while recent rains have helped, Iraq is still facing long-term water challenges, and these projects are seen as a key step toward securing the country’s water future.
