The Little Zab River in Iraq’s northern Kurdistan is facing a severe water crisis, with its flow almost completely dried up. This has raised concerns of an “environmental catastrophe” for the water-stressed border city of Qaladiza, which relies on the river for drinking water and irrigation purposes. The river, which originates in neighboring Iran, used to carry seven billion cubic meters of water annually. However, climate change and dam construction in Iran have significantly reduced its volume in recent years.
The construction of the Kolsa dam on the Iranian stretch of the Little Zab in 2017 is largely responsible for the diminishing water levels. Water treatment facility director Marf Karim stated that the river’s water levels have decreased by about 80 percent, posing a threat to the entire region’s water wells and groundwater reserves. To address the issue, a small makeshift dam has been built near Qaladiza to retain more water. However, this does not solve the problem of water quality in the shrinking river, which requires additional filtration products.
Iraq has been grappling with the effects of climate change, including drought, rising temperatures, and declining rainfall. In the case of Qaladiza, resource diplomacy exacerbates geopolitical fault lines and regional tensions as growing populations put more pressure on limited water resources. Iran is also facing worsening conditions, with approximately 56 percent of its territory affected by severe drought. In 2017, Iran realized that it was losing a significant amount of water to Iraq, potentially leading to water shortages within Iran by 2036. To address this, Iran has constructed over 100 dams to redirect excess water flow into its own reservoirs.
Iraq has also been building dams and implementing measures to reduce water demand, such as encouraging farmers to adopt more efficient irrigation methods. However, it is also seeking a larger share of the water resources it shares with Iran. The water disputes between the two countries have become part of their larger geopolitical calculations. Iran has released water into the Zab River to minimize tensions with Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region. It is crucial for Iran to prevent major upheavals on its borders, both politically and environmentally.
Qaladiza governor Bakr Baez acknowledges that water disputes are primarily political problems, but the failure to resolve them has had dire consequences. Farmers are struggling to irrigate their fields, and the majority of the area’s fish farms have been affected by water shortages. While the manager of an Iraqi dam downstream downplays the impact of Iranian water cuts, farmers like Ali Hassan are resorting to digging to reach the water table to keep their fish alive. Without fresh water, the fish will die, resulting in significant financial losses for farmers.
The water crisis has also affected agriculture in the region, with farmers unable to cultivate crops due to water shortages. Orchards have been lost, and attempts to grow crops like okra and watermelon have failed. The situation highlights the urgent need for a resolution to the water disputes between Iraq and Iran to prevent further environmental and economic damage.
In conclusion, the Little Zab River’s near-complete drying up poses an environmental catastrophe for Qaladiza and the surrounding region. Climate change and dam construction in Iran have significantly reduced the river’s water volume, leading to water shortages for drinking and irrigation purposes. The water disputes between Iraq and Iran have geopolitical implications and require urgent resolution to prevent further damage to the environment and the livelihoods of the people in the region.