Rainfall revives dried-up springs across Iraq; no summer water shortage expected, officials say

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Heavy rainfall in recent months has significantly boosted groundwater levels across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, revitalizing dried-up springs and improving dam reserves, officials said on Saturday.

Maytham Ali, director general of Iraq’s groundwater authority, told Rudaw that this year’s rainfall has had a particularly strong impact on shallow water sources, though the effects on deeper reservoirs may take years to materialize.

He explained that shallow reservoirs - those less than 50 meters deep - have benefited substantially from the rains, “particularly in the Kurdistan Region.”

Ali described a visible transformation in mountainous areas, where increased rainfall has restored natural water flows.

“In many mountainous areas, we have seen springs gushing. Water has returned in large quantities even to some springs that had previously dried up,” he said.

The improvement comes after years of severe water stress driven by reduced rainfall, rising temperatures, upstream dam construction, and decades of mismanagement. Iraq consumes more than 80 percent of its available water resources and ranks among the world’s 25 most water-stressed countries, according to the World Resources Institute.

The country relies heavily on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, but major Turkish dam projects - including the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) - have reduced water flows to less than 40 percent of historic levels.

Ali noted that the recent changes extend beyond the Kurdistan Region. A long-dry spring in Mosul has been revived, and groundwater levels in wells have risen following the rains.

Despite the improvements, he cautioned that the recovery may not be permanent.

“This revitalization is temporary. If rainfall does not continue in the coming years, the situation may return to its previous state,” he warned.

Officials overseeing Iraq’s dams also reported generally stable conditions. Wissam Khalaf, director general of the authority for dams and reservoirs, said most reservoirs are in good shape.

“The status of the dams is generally good, except for the Haditha Dam in Anbar province, which is not in a very good state due to the lack of rain in that area,” he told Rudaw.

Khalaf dismissed concerns about potential water shortages during the summer, saying current reserves are sufficient to meet demand.

Data from the Iraqi Meteorological Authority indicates that this season has been among the wettest in recent years. Nineveh province recorded the highest rainfall outside the Kurdistan Region, with Mosul receiving 262.8 millimeters. By contrast, Diwaniyah province saw the lowest levels, averaging 50.5 millimeters.

Malik Mohammed contributed to this report from Erbil, Kurdistan Region.