Government and judicial measures to combat pollution in Tigris and Euphrates

The Ministry of Environment revealed a package of strict governmental and judicial measures to limit environmental pollution in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, calling for obligating various facilities to establish special treatment units. Ministry Undersecretary Jawad Al-Jabouri confirmed in a press statement that intensive efforts are ongoing in cooperation with all local and international parties to improve water quality. He pointed out the existence of direct governmental and judicial directives to support efforts to combat water pollution, based on the provisions of Law No. 27 of 2009, with parliamentary and supervisory support to ensure the strict application of legal texts and protect the ecosystem as the ministry acts as an essential regulatory body. Regarding infrastructure for purification, Al-Jabouri noted that Iraq has sixty-seven water pollution treatment units, but most of them suffer from obsolescence, while some others have completely ceased operations or operate at lower capacities. He concluded by emphasizing the utmost importance of building new facilities to cover actual needs and the necessity for every establishment to have an independent treatment unit ensuring the safe disposal of waste and preventing water resource pollution.