Failing Flows: Water Management in Southern Iraq

The Middle East Centre at LSE published a fascinating policy brief, Failing Flows: Water Management in Southern Iraq. 

This publication examines the conflict driven deterioration of the public water infrastructure in Basra Governorate, southern Iraq. The publication highlights the effects of international sanctions, systematic corruption and defective governance resulting from conflict and insecurity.

The notable team of authors include local voices and perspectives that have worked directly with the Basra water governance project. 

 Despite historic prioritisation and donor plans, infrastructure water projects have stalled. Water scarcity in Basra City is being exacerbated the high salt content of water from the Shatt al-Arab and increasingly irregular flows from the Bada’a Canal. Supply-induced scarcity is being created by upstream dam construction, climatic variability, pollution and illegal water tapping. Demand-induced scarcity is growing with the population in southern Iraq. This publication offers insights into how policies for diversifying water sources for Basra could mitigate scarcity in this fragile region. 

 Download the report here.