Iraq raises water flow into Lake Habbaniyah to ease reservoir shortfall

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Water Resources has increased the volume of water directed into Lake Habbaniyah by 40 cubic meters per second on the instructions of Minister Musenna al-Tamimi, the ministry said. The additional flow is intended to raise the lake's water reserves, address the existing water deficit and help maintain ecological balance in the surrounding area. According to the ministry, the measure is also aimed at improving water quality and ensuring a sustainable supply for villages and settlements around the lake. Lake Habbaniyah, situated between Ramadi and Fallujah in Anbar province, covers 701 square kilometers and is one of Iraq's largest bodies of water, created in the 1950s. Muayad al-Mashwuh, director of the Habbaniyah tourist city, said in July that the area needs one billion cubic meters of water annually to resume normal activity and 3.5 billion cubic meters for the lake to return to its former level. Once home to hotels and leisure facilities that made it a leading domestic tourism destination, the lake's surroundings have suffered from declining investment and neglected infrastructure since 2003.