Media monitor

Minister says Baghdad’s per capita water use exceeds 600 liters daily

2024-09-07 | 18:54

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Minister of Water Resources Aoun Diab says water consumption in Baghdad exceeds 600 liters daily per capita, which is four times higher than that of an average Jordanian. As water resources diminish and the population rapidly increases, the ministry’s conservation plan aims to reduce this to 250 liters.

Excerpts from Diab’s interview with Al Iraqiya:

We have not witnessed temperatures like those recorded last June in all the past years; they reached up to 51 degrees Celsius. This is certainly an unusual phenomenon, and it has resulted in increased river water evaporation. Many trees have perished, affecting agricultural plans.

The government has many priorities, but water should be given a higher priority over other issues. There is interest in water, but it is not the top priority.

We have already reached a state of water poverty, falling below 1,000 cubic meters per person annually due to population growth and dwindling resources. This trend is accelerating, and if we manage to stay at (800-850) cubic meters per person, we would consider ourselves fortunate. But we are facing a decline due to multiple factors causing a decrease in water supply and increasing demand.

The per capita water share in Baghdad is very high, exceeding 600 liters per day for human consumption. In comparison, the Jordanian’s share is 125 liters per day. This is calculated by dividing the amount of water from raw water stations by Baghdad’s population. In Basra, the per capita share is also significant, reaching 450 liters per person. Our strategic plan for conservation aims to reduce consumption to 250 liters per day per person.

In 2025, we will collect water usage fees for agriculture and fish farming lakes. We have drafted a law to collect irrigation fees. There are floating plastic cages (for fish farming), and we have vast spaces in Lake Tharthar, for example. I am willing to provide these to farmers, anyone who wants them, but we are stuck with primitive methods, and we must develop.