Iraq's Water Crisis: A Call for Sustainable Solutions and Collaborative HR Action

Old technology dilapidated filtration stations.. Iraq imports drinking water

The head of the Bottled Water Producers Association announced today, Sunday, that Iraq ranked fourth among the largest importers of Turkish bottled water last year.

He said that the value of the bottled water sector in Turkey amounted to 31.1 billion Turkish liras in 2023, explaining that 391 thousand and 876 tons were exported at a value of 74.4 million dollars.

He pointed out that the association aims to increase the volume of water exports to 395 thousand tons in 2024.

He explained that water was exported to various countries such as: Germany, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Malta, Azerbaijan, France, Austria, the United States, Japan, Libya, and Israel.

The Ministry of Water Resources, through its official spokesman, Khaled Shamal, said last July: "Drinking water is fully secured in all Iraqi governorates."

He added that "the ministry has adopted five priorities for managing raw water imported into Iraq, the first of which is securing drinking water, and the second is the use of healthy water," stressing that "healthy water is also secured."

Polluted water

While a member of the council said in a statement that "drinking water in the capital, Baghdad, is largely polluted due to the poor quality of the water transport network and its age, and no changes have been made to it."

He explained that "this year's budget allocated funds to the Baghdad Governorate to establish new central water purification projects to provide better services to the areas of eastern Baghdad and the surrounding areas," noting that "the areas of Rusafa and the outskirts of the capital suffer more from polluted water."

He added that "several service projects will soon see the light in most areas and will reduce the percentage of polluted water and improve its quality," explaining that "the cause of this pollution is the dumping of medical waste and oil in the rivers."

Dangerous and catastrophic

Observers said that government institutions themselves are behind part of this environmental pollution, while the competent authorities are struggling to confront this scourge that threatens public health in the country.

They stressed that insufficient infrastructure, limited laws, and lack of public awareness are among the main factors leading to the significant deterioration in water quality in Iraq, and Baghdad, for example, has two water purification plants that receive "double their capacity" for treatment.

As a result, "two-thirds of industrial and domestic sewage is dumped untreated into river water," reaching "6 million cubic meters" per day.

Only about half of Iraq's population receives "potable water services," according to United Nations statistics. The population is 43 million.

Earlier, the spokesman for the Ministry of Water Resources, Khaled Shamal, said that in addition to the private sector, "the strange thing about the issue of pollution in Iraq is that the majority of government institutions are responsible for it."

He added that among them are "sewage departments (which) dump large quantities (of sewage) into the Tigris and Euphrates rivers without undergoing complete treatment or after simple treatment."

The spokesman pointed out that "most hospitals near the river dump their waste and discharge sewage directly" into it, which is "dangerous and catastrophic."

Water is decreasing

The Minister of Water Resources opened the door to serious discussion earlier this year about the increasing population versus the decreasing water in Iraq. While the water is not enough for agriculture now, with the increasing population, it will become insufficient even for drinking.

While the Minister of Resources confirmed that the best option to solve the water crisis and increase the quantities of fresh water would be through desalination of seawater and purification of heavy water for reuse again, similar to all countries, in televised statements, he pointed out that government estimates indicate that the country's population will rise to 50 million by 2040, while by 2100 the number will be much larger and will not be able to meet basic needs.

For example, in 2022, the per capita share of drinking water was 349 liters per day, which means that Iraq's need for drinking water for all its residents is more than 15 billion liters or 15 million cubic meters per day, equivalent to 5.5 billion cubic meters per year.

In contrast, Iraq's current average annual revenues are 25 billion cubic meters per year, or more than 68 million cubic meters per day, or equivalent to 68 billion liters per day, which means that if current water revenues remain at their current level without decreasing, they will be completely insufficient for drinking when Iraq's population reaches 195 million people.

The Central Statistical Organization estimates that the number of Iraqis will rise to more than 51 million people in 2030, at a rate of one million people per year, and while the current population is 43 million people, Iraq will be 152 years away from the current water becoming insufficient to cover the drinking water for the population.

However, this is on the assumption that water will remain at its current level or that the growth rate will not increase, but in fact water is constantly decreasing and will not remain at its current rate, in addition to the fact that the annual population growth rate will not stabilize at one million people per year, but is expected to increase more in the coming years, which makes the number of years in which Iraq will not find water for all its residents, not 150 years, but perhaps less. According to the World Bank, Iraqis feel the severity of the problems of lack of water and sanitation services in urban centers where most of the population now lives. Outside Baghdad, the coverage rate of drinking water services is less than 70% on average and drops to 48% in rural areas. In Baghdad, 25% of the population's homes are still not connected to the drinking water network, and they rely on expensive alternative sources.

HR View on the Water Crisis in Iraq:

The water crisis in Iraq presents significant challenges that have a profound impact on public health, environmental sustainability, and overall socio-economic development. From a professional Human Resources (HR) perspective, addressing this crisis requires a multi-faceted approach that involves collaboration among government institutions, private sectors, and civil society to ensure sustainable solutions and safeguard the well-being of the population.

Key Points to Consider:

1. Environmental Pollution and Public Health:

- The contamination of water sources in Iraq poses a severe threat to public health, with polluted water contributing to various health risks and diseases. HR professionals can advocate for comprehensive strategies to address environmental pollution and improve water quality to safeguard the health of employees and communities.

2. Infrastructure Development and Capacity Building:

- Insufficient infrastructure and limited resources contribute to the deterioration of water quality in Iraq. HR professionals can play a crucial role in advocating for investments in infrastructure development, capacity building programs, and training initiatives to enhance water management practices and ensure sustainable access to clean water for all.

3. Government Accountability and Policy Advocacy:

- Government institutions have a responsibility to address the root causes of water pollution and implement effective policies to mitigate environmental degradation. HR professionals can engage in policy advocacy efforts to hold government agencies accountable for their actions and promote sustainable water management practices at both local and national levels.

4. Community Engagement and Awareness Campaigns:

- Lack of public awareness about water conservation and pollution prevention exacerbates the water crisis in Iraq. HR professionals can facilitate community engagement initiatives and awareness campaigns to educate the public about the importance of water conservation, sustainable usage practices, and the impact of pollution on public health and the environment.

5. Long-Term Planning and Sustainability Measures:

- As the population in Iraq continues to grow, the demand for clean drinking water will increase, necessitating long-term planning and sustainable water management strategies. HR professionals can collaborate with stakeholders to develop comprehensive water management plans, promote water conservation practices, and ensure the sustainable use of water resources for future generations.

6. Cross-Sector Collaboration and Partnerships:

- Addressing the water crisis in Iraq requires collaborative efforts across sectors, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, private sectors, and international partners. HR professionals can facilitate cross-sector collaboration and partnerships to leverage resources, expertise, and innovative solutions to tackle the complex challenges posed by the water crisis.

By adopting a holistic approach that integrates environmental sustainability, public health considerations, community engagement, and long-term planning, HR professionals can contribute to addressing the water crisis in Iraq and promoting sustainable water management practices that benefit current and future generations.