A vital project in Kirkuk to transform wastewater and rainwater into sustainable agricultural wealth

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[size=52]A vital project in Kirkuk to transform wastewater and rainwater into sustainable agricultural wealth[/size]

[size=45]Kirkuk province faces major challenges related to infrastructure, especially with regard to the sewage network and the disposal of wastewater and rainwater.
The project to extend and connect the sewage network to drain this water and use it in agriculture is considered an important and vital step to enhance environmental sustainability in the region.
The Sewerage Department in Kirkuk province, one of the formations of the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Public Municipalities, announced the allocation of two trillion dinars to implement the largest project to extend and connect the sewage network to drain wastewater and rainwater and use it in agriculture.
Deputy Director of Kirkuk Sewerage, Naseef Jassim, said that “Minister of Construction and Housing, Benkin Rikani, allocated the aforementioned amount to implement the Kirkuk Sewerage and Rainwater Project,” adding that “this project is one of the most important infrastructure projects in Kirkuk province.”
He added, “The project is being implemented in stages by Kirkuk Sewerage, and it is one of the investment projects implemented by solid companies, as it includes three pumping stations that transfer sewage and rainwater to the last station located in (Tarkalan), from where the water is treated and converted into clean water suitable for agricultural use.”
Jassim continued, “Part of this project is a sewage treatment plant at a cost of 136 billion Iraqi dinars, and it is one of the most important strategic projects in Kirkuk Governorate.”
He explained, “Work on the project is progressing very well, and the work stages have reached 80%, and it is hoped that the project will be completed by the end of this year.”
The assistant director of the department added, “The Kirkuk Unified Sewerage Project for sanitation began its first phase in 2011, which includes the construction of a treatment plant in Tarkalan,” noting that “the first phase, which was referred by the Ministry of Municipalities to an Iranian company, was halted due to problems at the work site with the people of the Tarkalan area until 2014.”
He continued, "The Kirkuk Unified Sewerage Project will provide 300,000 cubic meters of clean water suitable for agriculture, as the water is pushed into agricultural paths that help farmers use it after being treated in the treatment plant, and it will play a role in increasing agricultural areas in the areas south of Kirkuk."
For his part, civil activist Ali Al-Yasiri said, "Launching a major project to extend and connect an integrated sewage network in the city of Kirkuk, with the aim of draining sewage and rainwater in safe and sustainable ways, represents an important step for the governorate."
He added, "This water, which is often considered a major environmental problem and a major cause of floods and pollution, can be transformed into an important economic and environmental resource if exploited properly."
“Implementing such a project will bring many benefits to the city. On the one hand, it will help improve infrastructure and prevent recurring floods that cause significant property damage and disrupt the daily lives of residents. On the other hand, treated water can be a major source of irrigation for agricultural land, which will increase agricultural productivity and reduce dependence on traditional water sources, which are often limited or not available in sufficient quantities,” he explained.
The civil activist explained that “this project can contribute to improving the local environment by increasing green spaces in the city and its suburbs, and the new agricultural lands that will be irrigated with treated water will contribute to reducing environmental pollution, improving air quality, and enhancing biodiversity in the area.”
He stressed that “the project can create new job opportunities and boost the local economy. By investing in sustainable infrastructure, the local government can provide job opportunities in the fields of construction, maintenance, and water resource management, which will contribute to improving the standard of living for residents.”
Al-Yasiri called for “the need for cooperation and coordination between various government agencies and civil society to ensure the success of this project and achieve its goals, and to raise community awareness of the importance of using treated water in agriculture, and to work on changing negative perceptions about this subject.”
According to specialists, the project is not limited to improving the infrastructure only, but also opens the door to new investment opportunities, and enhances the standard of living of citizens by creating new jobs and developing economic sectors related to agriculture.[/size]
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