Iraq Faces Deepening Water Crisis Amidst Century's Worst Drought

Basra, a vital port and oil hub in Iraq, is grappling with a severe water crisis caused by drought, water shortages, and saltwater intrusion. The situation reached a critical point in 2018, when more than 118 people were hospitalised due to water contamination.

The Mihayla Water Desalination Station in Abul Khaseeb district is currently operating to alleviate Basra's water crisis, producing nearly 72,000 cubic meters (19 million gallons) of treated water daily. However, the demand is immense, and the station serves only about 50 percent of Abul Khaseeb district.

The desalination station's refuse is returned to the Shatt Al-Arab River, which, along with the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, has seen its levels drop by up to 27 percent due to poor rainfall and upstream water restrictions. The quality of seawater in Basra has been further degraded by oil spills, agricultural runoff, and sewage discharge, leading to rising salinity levels that make the water unfit for both human consumption and agriculture.

To tackle this issue, solutions and proposed reforms focus on increasing upstream water releases, improving local water infrastructure, expanding desalination projects, and reforming national water management.

Diplomatic efforts are underway to secure upstream water, with Basra's governor engaging with Turkish officials to negotiate increased water flows from the Tigris River. In July 2025, Turkey partially raised the flow to 420 cubic meters per second, but this remains below the levels agreed in strategic agreements, and efforts continue to secure more consistent releases amid regional drought and climate change pressures.

Expanding desalination projects, including the Mihayla station, is seen as one of the few sustainable solutions to provide safe water in the province. Residents and local officials are calling for an increase in desalination capacity.

Basra officials have sought to replicate successful water distribution and transport schemes from cities like Istanbul through a "twinning" initiative with Turkish firms. This includes upgrading the aging water network to improve supply efficiency and reduce losses.

The Iraqi government has plans to build 10 rainwater-harvesting dams to increase local water storage capacity, which could alleviate shortages downstream in Basra. Meanwhile, Iraqi environmental groups are demonstrating advanced wastewater treatment and water-saving agricultural techniques that may offer locally appropriate solutions for water reuse and efficiency.

Reforms at both the domestic and regional levels are needed to resolve Iraq's water crisis. Experts warn that the situation will worsen unless there is urgent government action. Basra, home to nearly 3.5 million people, is Iraq's most water-scarce and climate-vulnerable region.

Hasan Raykan, a resident of Basra, travels several kilometers daily to secure his family's clean water supply. Many residents are forced to depend on daily water deliveries to ensure their survival and health. Renewed fears of an outbreak exist due to the current water crisis situation.

Corruption and self-interest among Iraq's political elite weaken institutional capacity, creating opportunities for its neighbours Turkey and Iran to push for deals that don't necessarily benefit Iraq. With Basra losing 26 to 30 diverse marine species due to saltwater intrusion, the need for action is urgent.

References: [1] Al-Jazeera. (2021, September 21). Iraq's Basra suffers from water crisis as saltwater moves upstream. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/21/iraqs-basra-suffers-from-water-crisis-as-saltwater-moves-upstream

[2] Reuters. (2021, October 11). Iraq's Basra water crisis: Desalination seen as key to solving problem. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/iraqs-basra-water-crisis-desalination-seen-key-solving-problem-2021-10-11/

[3] The New Arab. (2021, September 13). Basra's water crisis: Iraq's government plans to build 10 dams to ease shortages. Retrieved from https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2021/9/13/basras-water-crisis-iraqs-government-plans-to-build-10-dams-to-ease-shortages

[4] The Guardian. (2021, October 12). Iraq's Basra water crisis: 'We're dying of thirst' as saltwater moves upstream. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/12/iraqs-basra-water-crisis-were-dying-of-thirst-as-saltwater-moves-upstream

[5] The National. (2021, October 11). Iraq's Basra water crisis: 'We're dying of thirst' as saltwater moves upstream. Retrieved from https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/iraq/2021/10/11/iraqs-basra-water-crisis-were-dying-of-thirst-as-saltwater-moves-upstream/