Activities in Iraq

Water Resources Management

Iraq, as a country situated in the Fertile Crescent, with an abundance of water resources, has the longest and proudest history of agriculture and irrigation in the region. It had a very well developed irrigation system in 1980s.

Unfortunately, over the past decades of devastating periods which Iraq had to go through, the sector of water resources now in Iraq is in a very critical state. Construction of dams in the upper reaches of the Tigris and Euphrates led to the decline in water levels, besides the fact that irrigation consumes huge amounts of water. Saline water flows into the soil and the mismanagement of drainages also cause soil salinity. As a result, the amount of available water and healthy lands are declining.

There are many things to be tackled in this sector. The most urgent issues are:

1. Secure safety of existing water resources facilities and strengthen operation and maintenance functions for efficient water use,
2. Apply the efficient water distribution through water use monitoring
3. Raise the level of public awareness to save water resources and introduce new techniques on saving water to the agricultural sector

This training program was organized under agreement with the governments of Japan and Jordan. The course focused on water resource management, which is of vital importance for industrial and agricultural development.

Jordan, as one of those countries with the scarcest water resources, has a very sophisticated water resource management system, such as SCADA system, a water distributing system to farmers, a water recycling system to plantations and so forth.

Through SCADA system and the control center, various parameters can be controlled, such as water level in the dams and channels, water flow, gages and valves movement. This leads to the most efficient use, management and distribution of water.

The course was designed to have participants understand the latest water resource management system with up-to-date technologies, as well as an efficient water use system. The participants are expected to understand the importance of saving water. They are also expected to gain and improve skills and information in maintaining water use schedules, improving water saving facilities, improving the water pricing system and so forth.

Staff from the Center for the Restoration of Iraq Marshlands (CRIM) was invited to the course. It is expected that this program will help improve the Marshland restoration.

• General Information (G.I.) (PDF/241KB)
• Press Release (PDF/63KB)