Najaf residents alarmed after green water flows from taps

NAJAF — Residents of Mishkhab district, south of Najaf, raised concern this week after their tap water turned green, prompting calls for urgent clarification from authorities.

“The water reaching our homes, especially tap water, has turned green,” resident Abbas Fattlawi told 964media. “We don’t know the reasons and we need clarifications. Honestly, we are afraid to use this water because of its color. At first, I thought the problem was from my house pipes, but after seeing posts from friends and neighbors, it became clear that most of the city’s residents received water like this.”

Najaf’s central water project management attributed the change to this year’s sharp decline in Euphrates River levels. Officials said the Ministry of Water Resources was forced to pump stored water from dams and lakes, which carried higher levels of algae and dissolved organic matter, leading to unusual colors and odors.

“With the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, the raw river water experiences annual changes, but what happened this year was different,” project manager Mahmoud Shakir said. “Unnatural colors and odors were observed due to increased levels of algae and dissolved organic matter.”

He said treatment measures were underway. “Water projects are designed to remove suspended particles, followed by detailed tests. We increased chlorine levels to very high concentrations and operated three chlorine systems with a capacity of 40 kilograms to address the situation, in addition to regularly washing filters and cleaning basins,” Shakir said.

He added, “We reassure citizens that the water distributed is good after sterilization, although the problem arose mainly because of the unprecedented decline in Euphrates levels this year. The suction pipes have become visible, and the quantities being pumped are not fresh but stored water from dams and lakes.”