Shatt al-Arab pollution crisis: an existential threat to food sources and ecosystems

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[size=52]Shatt al-Arab pollution crisis: an existential threat to food sources and ecosystems[/size]

[size=45]The Shatt al-Arab region is facing a worsening pollution crisis that threatens food sources and aquatic ecosystems.[/size]
[size=45]Pollution in the river's waters is attributed to the worsening of untreated industrial discharges, agricultural pollution, and high salinity, which has led to the deterioration of water quality.[/size]
[size=45]This ongoing pollution poses a threat to marine life and agricultural crops that depend on these waters, threatening food security in the region.[/size]
[size=45]Aquatic ecosystems also suffer negative impacts on biodiversity and fish, which are a source of livelihood for many local people.[/size]
[size=45]The Minister of Water Resources, Aoun Diab Abdullah, says, “The annual revenue rate from the Euphrates River, which was no less than 30 billion cubic meters annually, has decreased to 14 billion cubic meters, and will continue to decrease to reach less than 7 billion cubic meters during the past four years. In contrast, the revenue rate from the Tigris River has decreased to one billion cubic meters annually, while it was 21 billion before 1999.”[/size]
[size=45]For his part, the head of the biological department at the Basra Environment Directorate, Hadi Abdul Hussein Khadir, says, “The amount of water releases from Maysan Governorate in the north towards Basra is insufficient, which weakens the flow and causes the salt tongue to rise from the Gulf to the Shatt al-Arab during the high tide and the salt tongue to penetrate into the fresh water.”[/size]
[size=45]He points out that “there is a positive impact on the quality of the Shatt al-Arab water if the Karun River entering from Iran is open and discharges its water into the Shatt al-Arab.”[/size]
[size=45]Regarding the salt concentrations, he explains that “their percentage ranges between 1510-2555 mg/L near Khalid Bridge, and according to his assessment, they range from acceptable to good concentrations, while in the south of Basra Governorate, and specifically in Al-Faw District, the quality of the water in the Karun River is greatly affected,” adding that “this year 2024, we do not have data on the status of salt concentrations in Al-Faw water. The concentrations of total dissolved salts (TDS) witnessed a noticeable increase during October, November, and December of 2023, recording 14964-17075-11350 mg, respectively.”[/size]
[size=45]Environmental expert and academic Shukri Al-Hassan says, “The Shatt al-Arab’s exposure to salt waves coming from the Arabian Gulf casts a dire shadow on the environment surrounding this river,” noting that “in recent decades, the Shatt al-Arab has been exposed to a decrease in the discharges that feed it and the closure of the Karkheh River in the north and the Karun River in the south on the Iranian side, which has led to a significant deterioration of its aquatic environment, in addition to the toxic pollutants that are dumped into it.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, “The entry of salinity from the Gulf and its mixing with pollutants present in the river itself - which come from internal canals, sewers, wastewater, agricultural waste, industrial workshops, and others - creates a toxic chemical mixture and makes the water unfit for life.”[/size]
[size=45]He explains that “the Shatt al-Arab represents a large part of the drinking water supply for the population, especially in the center of Basra city and elsewhere, and this dangerous water contains high local concentrations and pollutants that are extremely dangerous to health, which is exactly what happened in the summer of 2018 when more than 100,000 citizens were infected with intestinal infections.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Hassan proposes to solve the problem by “establishing stations to treat pollutants and linking them to a wide sewer network in order to stop the flow of pollutants into the river. He expresses his regret for the difficulty of implementing this, due to the need for diligent work, high capabilities, and huge amounts of money that cannot be provided in light of the current political situation in the country,” stressing “the necessity for Iraq to have a clear environmental policy, activation of environmental legislation, legal accountability, and awareness and education campaigns in this regard.”[/size]
[size=45]In 2018, the government decided to implement a project to transport sewage water from the city center, but the residential areas adjacent to the Shatt al-Arab in its northern and southern sections still empty their sewage water directly into the shore without treatment, which causes more pollution.[/size]
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