54 violations, pollution points identified along Euphrates in Anbar

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A four-day field survey along the Euphrates River in Anbar province identified 54 violations and pollution points stretching from the Syrian border to Lake Haditha, environment and water specialist Simeym Sellam Abu Furat said. The team used GPS and satellite imagery during its inspection of the river's main channel in the Rumeine, Qa'im, Ubaydi, Ana and Rawa areas. Findings included five sewage outlets discharging untreated waste into the river, four unlicensed sand quarries and operations, and five sites where poultry and dead animal waste was dumped. The survey also recorded eight unregistered fish farms, ten locations where construction debris had been discarded and 22 agricultural and residential encroachments along the riverbanks. Abu Furat warned that some sewage outlets located near drinking water treatment plants are increasing the risk of biological contamination in water distributed to residents in Qa'im, Ana and Rawa. She called on local authorities to urgently remove the sewage discharges, shut down the illegal sand quarries and regulate the fish farms. She said protecting the Euphrates should be treated as a national priority for water security in Anbar and across Iraq.