Heavy rainfall fills Dubz Dam to capacity as Lower Zab River levels surge

KIRKUK — Heavy rainfall and flooding have raised water levels in the Lower Zab River to high rates, filling the Dubz Dam to its full 58 million cubic meter capacity and prompting increased water releases toward the Tigris River, the dam’s director said.

Shakhawan Saeed told 964media that releases from the dam increased from 70 cubic meters per second before the rainfall to 130 cubic meters per second, adding that in peak flood conditions releases can reach 1,000 cubic meters per second. Rainfall in the area reached 672 millimeters during the recent wave, with floodwaters from Dukan and surrounding areas further boosting storage levels.

Saeed said water releases are being distributed between the Kirkuk irrigation canal, water supply stations and the Lower Zab to support the Tigris and downstream dams, noting that the Dubz Dam supplies 99 percent of Kirkuk’s drinking water. He added that “the past five years were years of drought,” making the current inflows a significant reversal.

Authorities in Kirkuk issued warnings last week to residents living near the river due to continued rainfall and flood flows.