Iraq urged to rehabilitate dams to strengthen water security

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Former member of Iraq’s Agriculture and Water Committee Sair al-Jabouri said rehabilitating the country’s dams would strengthen water security. He said the effort should go hand in hand with water-harvesting projects and the wider use of modern irrigation techniques. Al-Jabouri said Iraq has a system of large and small dams, including those in Mosul, Haditha and Hemrin. He said the facilities need regular maintenance and removal of accumulated sediment. He also said the Tar Tar depression in western Iraq and Lake Habbaniyah can store large volumes of water. Al-Jabouri said modern irrigation techniques could reduce water consumption by 60 to 70 percent.