Prof. Dr. Bassam A. A. H. Alkhateb

Soil Physics

Dep. Soil Science and Water Resources/ College of Agriculture / University of Anbar

     Iraq is located East of the Arab world and bordered by Iran to the East and Turkey to the North, covers an area of ??437.072 square kilometers, and a with population of Iraq 39.33 million population . Most of the water resources originate from outside sources of the country, exposing the flow of water facing threats from political considerations and regional alliances. The water resources of Iraq depends on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers flowing from Turkey northward to the South. Most of the rivers come from Turkey (71%), followed by Iran (6.9%), Syria (4%), and the rest sources are inside Iraq . Iraq is rich in water resources because of the presence of the Tigris and Euphrates River, but it has a water deficit, so requires the distinction between the concept of water poverty and water deficit confirms that the departure of millions of acres of agricultural use because of poor water management. 

      Iraq is passing into a major water crisis, one of the most important reasons is the establishment of dams on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, Turkey has implemented a GAP project, which includes 22 dams and 19 power plants and increased irrigated area on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers included 25 irrigation systems. This project disrupts agricultural development plans in Iraq and Syria, reduced costs lead to deterioration in the quality of water used . A UN report in 2010 indicated that the Tigris and Euphrates rivers would dry up when they reach Iraq if neighboring countries continue to implement their water projects .Therefore, the water quotas of each country should be given great attention to their impact on their development plans and strategies. Iraq and the region suffered from drought as temperatures recorded a record high, which negatively affects the population and agriculture in the region, and the amount of rainfall decreases with time  .

       The aggravation of the water crisis is summarized by the big difference between the water revenues and the quantities required for urban, agricultural and industrial purposes. The amount of dissolved salts in the waters of the Tigris River at the Iraqi-Turkish border is acceptable up to 280 mg / l, but it increases significantly as the river head South, while the water of the Euphrates River, the amount of dissolved salts at the Iraqi-Syrian border is about 600 mg / l and increases South To reach more than 1300 mg / l at Samawah. Declining river drainage, poor water quality and increased soil salinity have transformed large areas of land into arid soils. Around 45% of Iraq's land is believed to have been affected by desertification. A person left their land between 2007 and 2009. Limited water resources, drought, worsening desertification, poor management of water resources, lack of use of modern irrigation systems in agriculture and lack of rationalization of water use are among the most important factors .

Solutions               

       Improving relations with Turkey and Syria and solving problems requires building economic relations with upstream countries. Use of modern irrigation methods are one way to reduce the aggravation of the water crisis. The need to use modern methods that reduce water losses through the maintenance and development of irrigation networks and water distribution and try to use coated channels to reduce water losses. International and regional organizations should be utilized in the field of water resources management and investment.

Different remedy measure could be recommended; first of all different pilot research projects could  be carried out in order to take advantage of  technology and make appropriate use of it through conducting pilot experiments with non-conventional methods of water collection. Secondly, establishing an information bank containing all relevant information and allowing researchers and graduate students to use it. Thirdly, Effective participation in the World Water Day, organized by the United Nations Commission on Water Resources (UNCWR) and in cooperation with international parties, aims to raise awareness of the optimal utilization of water resources and discuss ways to address future challenges.