Why is the most viable resource in Iraq the fresh water from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and how can they be safeguarded from pollution in the...

Fresh water from the Tigris-Euphrates Basin in essential to the development and stability of the Middle East. Turkey, Syria, and Iraq are the main countries that benefit from the water of the Tigris-Euphrates Basin. Though the water flow fluctuates each year, the total flow from the Tigris-Eurphrates Basin is approximately 80 × 109 m3. The length of the Euphrates in Iraq is 1160 km, while the length of the Euphrates is 456 km.

The river is a critical...

Fresh water from the Tigris-Euphrates Basin in essential to the development and stability of the Middle East. Turkey, Syria, and Iraq are the main countries that benefit from the water of the Tigris-Euphrates Basin. Though the water flow fluctuates each year, the total flow from the Tigris-Eurphrates Basin is approximately 80 × 109 m3. The length of the Euphrates in Iraq is 1160 km, while the length of the Euphrates is 456 km.

The river is a critical resource in Iraq because of intense population growth, and the water is essential for agriculture. The population of the Middle East is expected to double in the next 30 years, and the amount of water per capita decreases with population increases. In addition, oil has led to increased economic growth in Iraq, which increases the need for water. Iraq also uses the river as a source of hydropower. Additional hydropower could come from the river.

However, since the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, the rivers have become polluted. The pollution has been caused by American and Iraq military maneuvers and by oil derivatives and other industrial waste. In addition, dams further up the river decrease its flow, increasing pollution. Organizations such as Waterkeeper Alliance are now attempting to clean up the Tigris-Euphrates. To clean up the rivers, the organization is working on cleansing the marshes and tributaries in Iraq and will then try to clean up the water upstream in Turkey and Syria. 

Source:

Al-Ansari, Nadhir (2016). "Hydro-Politics of the Tigris and Euphrates Basin." Engineering Vol.08, No.03.