MOWR: Iraq has 15 groundwater reservoirs

Baghdad - INA 

The Ministry of Water Resources indicated a slight decline in the strategic reserve of groundwater, attributing the matter to the lack of renewal of that water, especially in desert areas, while confirming that Iraq possesses approximately 15 groundwater storage reservoirs.

Director General of the General Authority for Irrigation and Reclamation Projects and the official spokesman for the Ministry, Khaled Shamal, said in a statement to the Iraqi News Agency (INA): “The Ministry indicated a slight decline in the strategic reserve of groundwater, and this is due to the scarcity and lack of renewal of that water in the desert areas in particular,” pointing out, “The Ministry stresses the importance of preserving this water and is constantly monitoring the extent of its use through monitoring centers for monitoring water.”.

He added, "The Ministry has identified four million dunums for agriculture using well water (groundwater) due to the scarcity of surface water in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers," noting, "The Ministry seeks to reduce the size of agricultural lands that depend on groundwater to preserve that water.".

He pointed out, "Iraq has 15 groundwater reservoirs, and the most important of these reservoirs used in agriculture are Dammam and Umm Ridmah in the western and southern desert. They draw the most groundwater from other reservoirs, in addition to other reservoirs, namely Anjana, Bay Hassan, and Al-Muqdadiya."