Water Resources Minister Discloses 31 Billion Cubic Meters Reserve, Outlines Plans for Challenges

Minister of Water Resources Muthanna Al-Tamimi announced on Sunday that Iraq's current water reserves amount to approximately 31 billion cubic meters. He pointed to a plan to improve the environmental situation in the marshes and deliver water to arid areas, emphasizing the investment of this water abundance. Al-Tamimi clarified that "Iraq's average water requirement is 30 billion cubic meters, while fulfilling irrigation demands requires between 50 to 60 billion cubic meters." He also explained that "the ministry's policy focuses on water rationalization and its delivery to areas suffering from drought," noting "ongoing efforts to improve the environmental conditions of Iraq's marshes." The minister revealed "violations along the course of the Tigris River, and others that affected water quality and the environmental situation of both the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in addition to violations related to water quotas." Al-Tamimi stressed that "the ministry has numerous cases concerning this matter and follows up on them daily."