Thaer al-Jubouri, a former member of the Parliamentary Agriculture and Water Committee, said on Monday that Iraq’s dam reserves have now exceeded 34 billion cubic meters of water, which should be enough to meet the country’s needs through the summer of 2026.
Al-Jubouri said the current water storage level is positive and provides some relief for the near future. However, he warned that it is not high enough to guarantee comfort in the years ahead, especially as Iraq continues to face growing water challenges.
He explained that while the available reserves can help Iraq get through next summer without major problems, the situation after that could become more difficult.
According to Al-Jubouri, Iraq needs a long-term national strategy to deal with drought because the problem is no longer temporary. He said the country must improve the way water is used in agriculture and reduce waste in cities and villages.
He also stressed the importance of raising public awareness about water conservation and encouraging people to use water more responsibly.
Al-Jubouri noted that Iraq’s water crisis has become more complicated due to climate change and the sharp decline in water flowing from rivers shared with neighboring countries. He said water supplies from some of these rivers have dropped by as much as 80%, a level he described as deeply concerning.
