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Iraq's Tigris Polluted, Drying Up: Life at Risk
16 Dec
Summary
- Ancient communities' survival depends on the flowing Tigris River.
- Decades of conflict and neglect have severely polluted the Tigris.
- Dams and climate change have drastically reduced the river's volume.
The Tigris River, a lifeline for ancient communities and the cradle of Mesopotamian civilization, faces an existential crisis due to severe pollution and a drastic reduction in water volume. For groups like the Mandaeans, whose faith is inextricably tied to the river's flowing waters, the situation is dire. Decades of conflict and underinvestment have crippled Iraq's water infrastructure, resulting in untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial waste contaminating the Tigris.
Compounding the pollution, upstream dams in Turkey and Iran, coupled with Iraq's own overuse of water, have significantly diminished the river's flow. This reduced volume exacerbates the pollution problem, making the water increasingly toxic. Climate change has further intensified the crisis, with Iraq experiencing severe drought conditions that have seen the Tigris become shallow enough to walk across in some areas.
An "oil-for-water" accord between Iraq and Turkey aims to address some issues, but experts and activists criticize its lack of transparency and binding power. Without immediate and effective intervention, the Tigris's decline poses a fundamental threat to the environment, economy, and the very existence of traditions and communities that have thrived on its banks for millennia.
