Groundwater levels rise by one meter in Sulaymaniyah

SULAYMANIYAH, December 30 — Groundwater levels in Sulaymaniyah have risen one meter, in an upturn attributed to an abundance of rainfall in 2023.

Over 800 mm of rain was recorded this year, resulting in overflows in the governorate’s waterways and a positive impact on groundwater levels, said Abbas Ali, the head of Sulaymaniyah’s groundwater directorate.

In contrast, a 12-meter decline in groundwater was recorded in Sulaymaniyah from 2019-2021, primarily due to low rainfall. “We need about 10 consecutive years of upwards of 800 mm of rainfall until the depletion of groundwater returns to normal,” Ali added.

There are 50 sample wells in Sulaymaniyah used solely to measure the level of groundwater.

Concerns persist due to the impact of illegal wells on Sulaymaniyah’s groundwater reservoirs, as there are more than 15,000 unauthorized wells across the governate, contributing to the depletion of groundwater resources.