ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Kurdistan Region’s groundwater levels have dramatically dropped, alarming the government, which is requesting help from international agencies.
“Concerning the level of groundwater, which has decreased sharply, for example, the underground water pools in Mala Omar have decreased by 100 metres and in Shaqlawa by 60 metres,” Mohammed Amin Fars, head of KRG’s directorate of water resources, told Rudaw.
Artesian wells where once water could be extracted without pumps no longer contain water, Fars explained, warning that levels will not return to normal.
The Kurdistan Region has constructed dams in an effort to address fears of water shortages due to dropping water tables, decreased rainfall, and dams within Iran and Turkey.
“More than 120 small dams have been built, which all collectively decrease the likelihood of a drought," Fars said.
Mohammed Aziz, the deputy head of Kurdistan’s Department of Water Resources, told Rudaw English that there are some underlying reasons leading to the sharp decreases in the water table. He listed more water wells —legal or illegal — recent drought conditions particularly in the mountainous area, lack of reliance on surface water sources, and climate change.
He confirmed that it turned out that the water table in Shaqlawa has reduced by 60 meters.
The KRG has called on international agencies to help with mitigating the issue.
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation has allocated $1.4 million for developing KRG’s water resources. UNESCO has also allocated 5 million euros for investigating and monitoring the KRG’s falling water table.
The Kurdistan Region has some 5 billion cubic metres in groundwater reserves. Fars’ office monitors water levels through 126 wells that are 400 metres deep.
Recent heavy rains have alleviated fears of a drought in the Kurdistan Region.
"Up to the beginning of February… it had been expected for the Kurdistan Region to face a drought,” Fazil Ibrahim, the head of the KRG’s meteorology and earthquake directorate, told Rudaw. "But the recent two [rainfall] waves and the third wave which is going to sweep the Region, it is expected that there is weak likelihood for a drought as the recent ratio of the rainfalls are very promising."
“Concerning the level of groundwater, which has decreased sharply, for example, the underground water pools in Mala Omar have decreased by 100 metres and in Shaqlawa by 60 metres,” Mohammed Amin Fars, head of KRG’s directorate of water resources, told Rudaw.
Artesian wells where once water could be extracted without pumps no longer contain water, Fars explained, warning that levels will not return to normal.
The Kurdistan Region has constructed dams in an effort to address fears of water shortages due to dropping water tables, decreased rainfall, and dams within Iran and Turkey.
“More than 120 small dams have been built, which all collectively decrease the likelihood of a drought," Fars said.
Mohammed Aziz, the deputy head of Kurdistan’s Department of Water Resources, told Rudaw English that there are some underlying reasons leading to the sharp decreases in the water table. He listed more water wells —legal or illegal — recent drought conditions particularly in the mountainous area, lack of reliance on surface water sources, and climate change.
He confirmed that it turned out that the water table in Shaqlawa has reduced by 60 meters.
The KRG has called on international agencies to help with mitigating the issue.
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation has allocated $1.4 million for developing KRG’s water resources. UNESCO has also allocated 5 million euros for investigating and monitoring the KRG’s falling water table.
The Kurdistan Region has some 5 billion cubic metres in groundwater reserves. Fars’ office monitors water levels through 126 wells that are 400 metres deep.
Recent heavy rains have alleviated fears of a drought in the Kurdistan Region.
"Up to the beginning of February… it had been expected for the Kurdistan Region to face a drought,” Fazil Ibrahim, the head of the KRG’s meteorology and earthquake directorate, told Rudaw. "But the recent two [rainfall] waves and the third wave which is going to sweep the Region, it is expected that there is weak likelihood for a drought as the recent ratio of the rainfalls are very promising."
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