Iraqi Kurdistan's Qaladiza town battles water shortages

QALADIZA,— In Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region, the Little Zab River, once a vital water source, is now on the verge of drying up, according to an AFP report.

This alarming situation has triggered concerns of an impending “environmental catastrophe,” especially for Qaladiza [Qeladizê], a city near the Iranian border that relies on the river for drinking water and agriculture.

The situation is further complicated by ongoing water disputes with neighboring Iran, where the river originates.

The Little Zab flows from Iran into Iraq, passing through Qaladiza, a town of about 90,000 people located approximately 30 kilometers from the border. The river has long served as a crucial lifeline for the region, supplying water for both human consumption and agricultural irrigation. However, in recent years, the river’s flow has dramatically decreased due to climate change and the construction of dams in Iran.

Marf Karim, who oversees a local water treatment plant, explained that the river once carried seven billion cubic meters of water annually. Now, that volume has plummeted, causing significant challenges for the region.

He attributes much of the decline to the Kolsa dam, which was built on the Iranian side of the Little Zab in 2017. “We monitor water levels every day,” Karim told AFP, noting that the river’s flow has diminished by approximately 80%.

The drop in water levels has left the once-thriving riverbed exposed to the harsh summer heat, turning much of it into a barren, rocky landscape. Karim expressed concern about the broader impact on the area’s ecosystem, warning of an “environmental catastrophe” that threatens not just the river, but also the surrounding groundwater wells and reserves.

In an attempt to address the crisis, local authorities have constructed a temporary dam to help retain what little water remains in the river. However, Karim emphasized that this is only a short-term fix, and more needs to be done to ensure the town’s water supply is clean and safe.

“We need better equipment to filter out impurities,” he added, highlighting the growing problem of water quality as the river continues to shrink.

The drying of the Little Zab is not an isolated incident. Iraq has been grappling with the consequences of climate change for years, including rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and a steady decline in rainfall. These environmental pressures have intensified the already delicate relationship between Iraq and Iran, particularly when it comes to shared water resources.

A Political and Environmental Crisis

Iran is also feeling the effects of worsening environmental conditions. According to the Iranian meteorological department, more than half of the West Azerbaijan province, which borders Iraq, was experiencing “very severe drought” as of June 2023.

Despite these challenges, Iran has been constructing a series of dams since the 1990s, aiming to manage its water resources more effectively. However, the decision to build the Kolsa dam and over 100 others has had significant downstream effects, including reducing the flow of water into Iraq.

An aerial view shows tracts of the riverbed exposed around the “Little Zab” river, which enters Iraq from Iran, near the town of Qaladiza, in the northern autonomous Kurdistan region, 2022. Photo: Screengrab/Esta video/YT/via iKurd.net

Banafsheh Keynoush, a scholar at the Kroc Institute at the University of Notre Dame, explained that Iran began realizing in 2017 that it was losing a significant portion of its water supply to Iraq. This prompted Tehran to build more dams to divert the flow into its reservoirs, preventing potential water shortages within its borders by 2036.

Iraq, for its part, has been responding by constructing its own dams and encouraging farmers to adopt more sustainable irrigation methods. However, the competition for water has placed additional strain on an already fragile relationship between the two countries.

According to Keynoush, “Iran has factored its water disputes with Iraq into its larger geopolitical calculations.” This has led to ongoing negotiations involving both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government, with the aim of finding a more equitable solution to the shared water crisis.

In November, Iran briefly released some water into the Little Zab, an apparent goodwill gesture intended to ease tensions with the Kurdistan government.

However, experts warn that such temporary measures are not enough to solve the long-term problem. “It is vital for Iran to avoid any major upheavals on its borders, both politically and environmentally,” Keynoush noted.

Dire Consequences for Farmers

The water crisis is having a profound impact on local communities, particularly farmers who rely on the Little Zab for irrigation. Qaladiza Governor Bakr Baez described the issue as “essentially a political problem,” but one that has very real consequences for the people in the region. Many farmers are struggling to find enough water to sustain their crops, and the situation is only worsening as water shortages persist.

According to Baez, the majority of the area’s 257 fish farms have been severely affected by the dwindling water supply. One local farmer, Ali Hassan, has resorted to digging in search of underground water to keep his fish alive.

“It’s been three days since we last changed the water in the tanks,” Hassan said, explaining that without fresh water, the fish will die due to rising temperatures. Losing the fish would be a significant financial blow for Hassan, who estimates the loss could amount to $13,000.

Other farmers are also feeling the strain. Omar Mohamed, a 48-year-old farmer, lamented that the lack of water has made it impossible to grow crops. “I had orchards, but they’re gone,” Mohamed said. “A neighbor tried to plant okra, another watermelon. They all failed.”

As water becomes scarcer and temperatures rise, the people of Qaladiza face an increasingly uncertain future. The drying of the Little Zab River is not only a local crisis but also a symbol of the broader environmental and political challenges facing the region.

Without coordinated action from both Iraq and Iran, the situation is likely to worsen, putting even more pressure on already strained resources.

(With credit AFP Report)