Terrifying images show the massive decrease in water storage in the Haditha Dam

2023-04-09

The Planning and Databases Department at the Upper Euphrates Basin Developing Center at University of Anbar obtained a set of satellite images taken from European Space Agency satellites showing the change in storage levels in the Haditha Dam reservoir for the period from April 2017 to April 2023.

Dr. Haitham Abdul Mohsen Affan said that the images showed a significant decrease in storage levels, which reached levels where the dam's reservoir turned from a large lake of water to a riverbed and not a lake within seven years, where the comparison was made for the same month of the year, which is April. Compared with the level of storage in the dam since 2020, the dam has decreased by about 70%, which calls for rapid action to address this issue, especially with regard to releases from the dam, rationalization of consumption and research on the factors most affecting storage.

It is also necessary to carry out a comprehensive awareness campaign to rationalize water consumption and raise awareness of the importance of this rationalization, in addition to mobilizing researchers and specialists to develop irrigation systems, crop quality and smart agriculture to reduce the consumption of water, especially if we know that 85% of the volume of water consumed is in the agricultural sector. It is necessary to legislate the necessary laws to protect water resources in Iraq, regulate citizen consumption, even at the level of domestic water, recycle water, and support research centres to play their role in carrying out research and studies related to water.

To view the video of the change in the storage of the Haditha Dam for the period from 2017-2023 click here

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