Mishkhab residents protest over unsafe tap water

NAJAF — Hundreds of residents in Mishkhab marched late Saturday demanding urgent improvements to tap water supplies, saying the water has become unfit for human use and warning of escalation if the crisis continues.

The demonstration began on Sayyid Jaafar Street and moved to Sheikh Abdul Wahid al-Sakr Square, where protesters accused local officials of neglect.

“The water that reaches our homes is not suitable for drinking,” protester Abbas al-Dhibhawy told 964media. “We submitted many appeals, we pleaded with officials, and our voices have gone hoarse in recent days. Sadly, we suffered humiliation, insult, and diseases, but no one listened. In the coming days, if procrastination and neglect by the local government continue, the consequences will be dire, and it will escalate, maybe even to cutting off the streets.”

Another resident, Haider al-Kinani, said water quality has reached crisis point. “The water is not fit even for animals, let alone humans. The diseases we face now are gastrointestinal, respiratory, and kidney diseases. This is a health issue, a matter of life. We tolerated the lack of electricity, services, roads, schools. But life itself can’t continue like this.”

Earlier this week, Mishkhab residents reported their tap water had turned green, fueling fears about contamination. Najaf’s central water project management blamed the problem on a sharp drop in Euphrates River levels that forced the Ministry of Water Resources to pump stored water from dams and lakes, which carried higher levels of algae and dissolved organic matter.

Officials said treatment measures were underway, including increased chlorine use and basin cleaning, but many residents said they remain unconvinced the water is safe.