Water Ministry Reveals Iraq's Drinking Water Consumption and Evaporation Details

The Ministry of Water Resources announced that Iraq's consumption of drinking water amounts to approximately 8 billion cubic meters annually, while water losses due to evaporation range between 6 to 7.5 billion cubic meters depending on temperature. Deputy Minister Raed Al-Jashami explained that the total water consumption across all sectors reaches about 45 billion cubic meters per year, noting that daily water inflows continue with a storage capacity of around 31 billion cubic meters, providing a good reserve for the coming year if water flows persist. He pointed out that the ministry aims to unify water management under its supervision, as it is responsible for collecting, storing, and distributing water among rightful recipients, while other entities are involved such as drinking water sectors and water departments, in addition to negative impacts from sewage departments discharging waste into river basins. Al-Jashami confirmed that drinking water is included in the ministry's plans without affecting provincial authorities' powers, with ongoing plans to equip desalination plants continuously, prioritizing targeted sectors. He noted that the country experienced a dry period over the past two years due to climate change and its ongoing effects, highlighting plans to manage water distribution based on available reserves, coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and municipal departments, under full government supervision. Water allocations are based on scientific data including agricultural plans and population consumption, ensuring fairness among all provinces, while addressing individual violations according to the law. The winter agricultural plan covers about 4 million dunams, in addition to approximately 1.5 million dunams relying on groundwater.