Do water harvesting projects and small dams represent the future of treating water scarcity?

2023-04-28

The data and observations on floods and rains achieved and recorded by the Upper Euphrates Basin Developing Centre and with tremendous efforts showed a set of conclusions that can be used to develop efficient and effective strategies to address water scarcity and the sustainability of water resources in Iraq in general and the Upper Euphrates region and the western region in particular. Two points of high importance can be deduced that can represent the basis of any solutions and treatments for water scarcity:

First: Despite the climate changes that the world and the region in particular are witnessing, which indicated that Iraq is among the countries most affected by climate change, there are years in which the amounts of rain can exceed the general averages, such as the 2018/2019 season and the current season 2022/2023, where annual rainfall amounts of more than 150 mm were recorded, which means that drought waves do not exceed three continuous years, which confirms previous calculations conducted by researchers from the centre that needed evidence from real field measurements, which is what was achieved this season.

Second: Runoff events were recorded in some valleys amounted to 3-4 times in one valley, and most importantly, floods were monitored and recorded in most of the valleys of the region, which is also consistent with studies by researchers at the centre of the possibility that the number of runoff events in some valleys reaches four times per season, in addition to the possibility of runoff events occurrence if the intensity of rain exceeds (7 mm / hour) and these hypotheses and calculations need real field measurements to prove them, which is achieved for the first time in 47 years in An achievement that is attributed to the centre and the University of Anbar.

Data and meteorology conducted by the Upper Euphrates Basin Developing Centre for thirteen small dams in the region with a total capacity of all these dams amounted to about 180 million cubic meters, the storage rate reached about 75%, i.e. 135 million cubic meters, in addition to that there are other valleys that have witnessed heavy rainfall and there are no dams such as the valleys of Tubel, Amj, Al-Awaj, Al-Ratga and others, and if we take into account groundwater recharge throughout the region, it is an exaggeration if we say that the water that can be harvested in this season exceeds one billion cubic meters and more only within the valley basins of the western region.

The Upper Euphrates Basin Developing Centre continues to update its databases and studies, which so far indicate the need to go towards water harvesting projects, whether surface or groundwater, and to support research, studies and research centers to build a comprehensive national vision to benefit and invest any drop of water available, and according to the university's directives, the doors of the center are open to researchers and relevant national governmental institutions to cooperate and exchange experiences as part of the university's strategic plan in community service and achieving Vision 2030.

To view the map of dams in the region click here.

To view the videos of floods and dams:

 - click here.
 - click here.

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