Local
Water resources in Iraq are witnessing notable improvement following the rise in river inflows entering across the country's western borders. The director of the Ramadi Barrage project, Chief Senior Engineer Majid Ibrahim Salman, confirmed on Sunday a tangible increase in the water levels of the Euphrates River, driven by incoming water flows from Syria exceeding one thousand cubic meters per second. Salman explained in an official statement that this surge has directly and effectively contributed to strengthening strategic reserves within the Haditha Dam and Lake Habbaniya. He pointed out the availability of good storage capacity in both reservoirs, which allows them to capture these inflows and meet water demands across various sectors in upcoming seasons. He detailed that current water releases from Haditha Dam toward the Ramadi Barrage stand at approximately 700 cubic meters per second, noting that barrage authorities are carefully managing the distribution of arriving water by routing a portion through the river's natural course to supply central and southern provinces, while diverting surplus volumes toward Lake Habbaniya. Highlighting the broader economic and agricultural benefits, Salman emphasized that enhancing the water reserve will positively impact the implementation of the agricultural plan in Anbar Governorate and other provinces. He stated that sustained high inflows from Syria will enable continued replenishment of Haditha Dam's storage, subsequently reinforcing Lake Habbaniya. Salman concluded by stressing that Lake Habbaniya represents a crucial strategic reserve that can be utilized during periods of drought and water scarcity through the Dhibban regulator to bolster releases into the Euphrates and ensure long-term water sustainability.
