Despite water scarcity (there is still waste of water resources)

2023-05-28

Through satellite monitoring and continuous follow-up of water resources in the upper Euphrates and Anbar province and recording everything related to these resources through hydrological monitoring stations, the Planning and Databases Department at the Upper Euphrates Basin Developing Centre - University of Anbar announced that there are water sources that are not well exploited and most of their water storages are wasted due to evaporation.

The department indicated that the update of satellite images of the European Space Agency has shown that most of the water storage of some small dams in the western region, which was stored from runoff waves in the rainy season, has been lost, especially in the dams of Shabija, Um El-Tarfat and Husseiniya, while the rates of losses from the dams of Rutba, Rahaliya and El Obeid were lower due to the relatively high storage capacity of these dams, but also large quantities and these rates can increase with the rise in temperatures during the next summer season which means a huge loss of desperately needed water resources.

The Upper Euphrates Basin Developing Centre has previously called on researchers and government institutions related to the water file to direct research and studies to invest in runoff water and small dams to develop water harvesting projects and find efficient scientific and practical solutions to reduce the impact of evaporation problems from the reservoirs of these dams.

The centre has previously submitted a proposal for a detailed study to invest the flood water that was stored in small dams in the western region to increase the green area and establish green belts that can contribute to reducing the impact of dust storms on Iraq, which has increased recently and can continue in the future instead of losing this stored water by evaporation.

Although the study was sent to the Ministry of Environment, which requested studies and proposals a year ago, the centre has not been contacted to discuss the study till now.

To view satellite images of the Rutba Dam, click here

To view satellite images of El-Obeid Dam, click here

To view satellite images of Shabija Dam, click here

To view satellite images of Umm Al Tarfat Dam, click here

To view the storage changes in Al-Husseiniyah Dam, click here

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