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BASRA, Iraq - The over four million people of Basra province are experiencing a devastating deterioration of their water quality.
In a matter of one month, an estimated one million date palm trees have dried up due to growing saltwater levels in the province, according to the Basra Agriculture Directorate.
This environmental development has forced many farmers to give up working the land.
“Thousands of date palm trees have dried up due to saltwater. We cannot take advantage of farming dates here. [...] The farmers are giving up this job and would rather start work as [construction] workers,” Muhsin Fayaz, an owner of date palm farmland told Rudaw.
The many making a living as fishermen are also suffering. The high salinity of the rivers has impacted the fish, leading many to die
With the Tigris, Euphrates, and Shatt al-Arab rivers, and three ports, the province has plenty of water access. Yet, it cannot provide adequate drinking water for its population or its agricultural needs.
Examinations have shown that the province’s water sources are not suitable for drinking and locals have been warned not to use it.
“No source for drinking water is available in Basra due to the high levels of salt in the waters. In 2018, a rise in water levels, contaminated the drinking water sources, making it useless even for farming,” Zuhair Jawad, head of the Basra Water Directorate, told Rudaw.
In 2018, more than 100,000 people were hospitalized due to the polluted drinking water
In the past, there were three water refineries in the province. However, they have been declared redundant by the government, leaving the southern province without its own fresh drinking water source.
Drinking water is currently being extended from Dhi Qar province to Basra through two projects.
In a matter of one month, an estimated one million date palm trees have dried up due to growing saltwater levels in the province, according to the Basra Agriculture Directorate.
This environmental development has forced many farmers to give up working the land.
“Thousands of date palm trees have dried up due to saltwater. We cannot take advantage of farming dates here. [...] The farmers are giving up this job and would rather start work as [construction] workers,” Muhsin Fayaz, an owner of date palm farmland told Rudaw.
The many making a living as fishermen are also suffering. The high salinity of the rivers has impacted the fish, leading many to die
With the Tigris, Euphrates, and Shatt al-Arab rivers, and three ports, the province has plenty of water access. Yet, it cannot provide adequate drinking water for its population or its agricultural needs.
Examinations have shown that the province’s water sources are not suitable for drinking and locals have been warned not to use it.
“No source for drinking water is available in Basra due to the high levels of salt in the waters. In 2018, a rise in water levels, contaminated the drinking water sources, making it useless even for farming,” Zuhair Jawad, head of the Basra Water Directorate, told Rudaw.
In 2018, more than 100,000 people were hospitalized due to the polluted drinking water
In the past, there were three water refineries in the province. However, they have been declared redundant by the government, leaving the southern province without its own fresh drinking water source.
Drinking water is currently being extended from Dhi Qar province to Basra through two projects.
By Hiwa Hussamedin
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