Water shortage in Ranya persists as repair teams struggle to locate damaged pipeline

RANYA — Seven neighborhoods in Ranya, the city center of the Raparin Administration, have been grappling with a severe water shortage for over a week due to a damaged main pipeline connected to the Qula water source. Aso Ibrahim Ali, head of the Qula water facility, informed 964media that despite ongoing efforts, the exact point of the pipeline breakage has not yet been identified, delaying necessary repairs.

The neighborhoods affected by this disruption include Sera, Azadi Yak, Azadi Du, Rashemrg, Glinjan, Nawresi, and Qalati Nwe.

Aso Ibrahim Ali explained that the water shortage is caused by a breakage in the pipeline that supplies water to the Sera water tank, which is responsible for distributing water to these areas. “We don’t know where exactly the pipe is broken because all the pipelines are buried underground and are not easily traceable,” he said, highlighting the difficulties repair teams face.

The pipeline, which dates back to the 1960s, may have suffered wear and tear over the years, complicating the search for the exact location of the damage. The lack of accurate maps of the underground infrastructure further exacerbates the problem. “When water flows from the Qula source to these neighborhoods, it’s not clear where the water is leaking due to the broken pipeline,” Ali added.

Repair teams are continuing their efforts to locate the breakage, but as of now, the situation remains unresolved. “It is not known when the site of the breakage will be discovered,” Ali acknowledged, leaving residents uncertain about when their water supply will be restored.

In late July, nearly 750 households in Sidakan district, north of Erbil, were left without water after a major pipeline was broken by a local construction company.

Earlier in January, a water main in Gali Ali Beg, Soran Autonomous Administration, was damaged by falling rocks, resulting in significant water shortages for several neighborhoods.