Iraq Ministry of Water Resources to use treated sewage water for agricultural irrigation

NASIRIYAH, October 24 — The Minister of Water Resources Aoun Diab Abdullah announced that his ministry is in the process of implementing a strategic project to make use of treated sewage water for irrigating crops in Baghdad and other governorates.

In an interview with the Al-Sabah Newspaper, the minister stated that Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa’ Al-Sudani has emphasized the need to use treated sewage water for the irrigation of various crops and for projects in major tributaries, where water distribution is challenging. This project will be executed in Baghdad and other governorates as part of the ministry’s investment plan.

The ministry is currently harnessing treated sewage water through pipelines or open channels for agricultural areas for crop cultivation rather than disposing of it into rivers. The project aims to enhance public services provided to citizens, and improve the environment through sustainable practices.

Diab highlighted that the sewage water treatment project will operate in three directions. The Baghdad Municipality is responsible for projects related to purifying the capital’s sewage, while the Ministry of Construction, Housing, Municipalities, and Public Works will manage projects in other governorates. Experiments have already been conducted in Basra, Maysan, Dhi Qar, as well as districts and regions in other governorates.

The sewage water treatment project in the holy city of Karbala is considered one of the leading projects, with treatment capacity of two cubic meters per second. An agreement has been reached with the Holy Al-Abbas Shrine to use a portion of the treated water for irrigating a 100-meter-wide green belt. The Holy Al-Hussein Shrine also plans to establish a new 1,000-meter-wide green belt. Additionally, they aim to contribute to the removal of pollutants from Lake Razzaza by recycling the water and using it for agriculture.