Water Reserves Increased in Iraq by Up to 50 Percent in 4 Dams

Director General of the Authority in the Ministry of Water Resources, Ali Radi, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): “The recent rains that fell across all governorates of Iraq from north to south were at their peak intensity in Dohuk Governorate,” noting that “amounts of torrents were generated inside The cities as well as in the valleys, and these quantities served us greatly in enhancing the water storage in the Mosul Dam. The rain that fell in the front part of the dam was utilized and directed to enhance the storage, so the percentage of water storage increased by more than 10% in the Mosul Dam, in the Dukan Dam, and in the Mosul Dam. Darbandikhan and also in the Hamrin Dam, in addition to the revenues achieved in the eastern and northeastern parts.”

Radhi added, “The Ministry has a three-pronged plan to exploit rain and torrential rains, which includes enhancing water storage, and this has been achieved well compared to the large storage vacuum that was affected by the past scarce seasons, and ensuring full irrigation for the winter season as a result of rainfall in all governorates of Iraq. In these governorates, ensuring full irrigation of agricultural crops has led us to reduce releases from dams because there is no need to release large quantities, and this is a positive factor in increasing, enhancing and preserving water storage.”

He continued, "The third axis includes investing in the torrent and rainwater that fell from the eastern side towards the Tigris River and was added to what was released into the river to feed the marshes that suffered from seasons of water scarcity and the decline in areas of flooding. Therefore, good quantities of water were secured for the marshes of Al-Hawizeh and Al-Hammar, and the rate of flooding increased or Flooding rates range from 30% to 50%.”