In Iraq, there’s a millennial drought, the kind of thing that scientists say comes along every thousand years. Lake Sawa, the largest lake in Iraq, has “dried up completely for the first time in thousands of years,” the rivers have shriveled into brooks, the supply of groundwater in many of the aquifers has been exhausted, and instead of rain, the farmers have to contend with dust storms. The misery is palpable, and hydrologists say it will only get worse. A report on this catastrophe is here: “Iraq faces acute water shortage,” by Aron Rosenthal, The Media Line, June 17, 2022:
Environmental experts have warned that the drying up of Lake Sawa in southern Iraq is a sign of more to come, with climate change and a lack of cooperation defining water distribution in the Middle East.
In April, the lake, which changes level seasonally and is the only one in Iraq to draw its water from underground aquifers, dried up completely for the first time in thousands of years.
For the inhabitants of nearby Samawa, the environmental concerns were trumped by the existential threat of losing access to the lake, which provides the only reachable water source in the region. Droughts resulting from climate change are thought to be partially responsible for the drying up of the lake.
Some analysts say that human intervention in the water supply is more culpable. Jassim Al-Asadi, managing director of the Chibaish office of Nature Iraq, told The Media Line that well-digging and industrial exploitation contributed to exhausting the supply of groundwater.
According to Al-Asadi, farmers have dug 5,000 wells within 6 kilometers of the Sawa Lake perimeter, exhausting the groundwater in the Dammam aquifer, upon which the lake depends.
Moreover, the groundwater in the Dammam aquifer is exploited for salt production and for industrial purposes such as cement plants.
Salman Khairalla, executive director of the Humat Dijlah Association, an Iraqi nongovernmental organization that seeks to protect the natural heritage of the Tigris River, told The Media Line that the onus of the lack of water is on unfair water distribution in the region.
“The causes of drought are manifold. Some of them may be related to climate change, but the largest part is related to the unfair use of water in the region,” he said.
Al-Asadi told The Media Line that it is theoretically possible to reverse the damage so far inflicted upon the lake if strict measures are implemented in the immediate future.
“Certainly, the damage can be repaired by preventing trespassing for digging wells, enacting legislation to rationalize the use of groundwater, and digging experimental wells within the vicinity of the lake,” he said.
A terrible picture. Wouldn’t you think, in this desperate situation, which is only going to get much, much worse, that the government of Iraq would want to call on the one country that has led the world in husbanding its water supply, including waste water management, recycling, desalination, and drip irrigation? Wouldn’t you want to profit from that country’s inventiveness in coming up. with a machine, the Watergen, that produces clean water from the ambient air?
Of course you would, and Israel, the country in question, stands ready to help anyone who asks for it. It has supplied that machine, for example, to dozens of countries around the world, including the Emirates, and even to the Palestinians.
But Iraq, the country that, possibly more than any other, could benefit from Israel’s expertise in water management and production, won’t be contacting the Israelis any time soon. In late May, the Iraqi Parliament voted unanimously on the proposal to “prohibit normalization and the establishment of relations with the Zionist entity (Israel).” The law included severe penalties, up to death or life imprisonment, for those dealing with Israel. According to the version published by the official Iraqi News Agency, the aim of the law is to “prevent the establishment of diplomatic, political, military, economic, and cultural or any other form of relationship with the occupying Zionist entity.” Just when parched Baghdad ought to have had one of those Better-Call-Saul moments, the Iraqis decided instead to make it a capital crime to have any dealings with Israel. What we were taught as children made no sense, is exactly what Iraq has done: it’s cut off its nose to spite its face.
mortimer says
This would be the best time to start a counter-revolution in Iran to knock the mullahs out of power, but the US is in disarray because of Bumbling Bribed-man in the White House.
He can’t ride a bike without humiliating himself.
If the Dems had common sense they would retire him right away before the world completely falls apart.
gravenimage says
Mortimer, this is Iraq, not Iran. Largely same difference, though.
mortimer says
This would be the best time to bomb all of Iran’s nuclear labs.
PMK says
I just saw Watergen is in the USA. They’re working on many models of Watergen. There must be licensed distributors in the US and other countries. Israel is even using it to help Syrian refugees. If Iraq is so opposed to doing business with Israel, why not contact the Emirates or even a US distributor? The drought will also create food shortages down the line.
john smith says
What a brilliant invention, I was completely unaware that such machines existed. I’ve just googled Watergen and I’m seriously thinking of buying one myself, they are not to expensive.
somehistory says
I could use one of those. Esp considering the things going on with the government and what may come upon us all soon…water may be cut off if cities go too far into debt with all of the things for which money is needed.
wonder why CA hasn’t bought some, since they are in severe drought and have been for years. and the Colorado River is being used by too many, it seems.
guess newsom and his bunch are just too stupid to think of such things as actually solving problems instead of creating them.
much as many mozlums and their governments do.
gravenimage says
Somehistory, we’ve certainly been using them in some instances:
“Battling the California Fires With Water Made From The Air”
https://www.watergen.com/news_item/battling-the-california-fires-with-water-made-from-the-air/
For the rest, mostly we are relying on reservoirs, which are low but hardly empty.
CogitoErgoSum says
This machine works best when humidity is at least 20%. Humidity in the desert often gets well below that during the summer months so for a good part of the year it may not produce much water. But a quick search of the internet showed that average humidity levels for Saudi Arabia anyway were above 20% between October and May so, yes, this would probably work in Iraq at least for most of the year. With some planning ahead for the driest months it would probably be a good partial solution for dealing with a drought. I don’t know how well it would work with growing crops and keeping animals watered but it would at least help keep people from dying of thirst if used intelligently. However, that “intelligently” part is apparently a bigger problem in Iraq than drought.
Keith O says
Another fine example of stupid humans screwing with the planet and then bitching when things go pear shaped.
Infidel says
No reason to bellyache over why Iraq ain’t cooperating w/ Israel. Let them continue to struggle w/ important issues, like whether they are sunni or shi’a, the role of Iran in their country and what level of autonomy, if any, the Kurds should have
gravenimage says
In Iraq, A Millennial Drought
……………………
What–Muslims hating Jews more than makes rational sense? Say it ain’t so!
Of course Israelis would help–they are supremely decent people.
Michael says
Lake Sawa draws its water from the Euphrates through cracks in the rocks. Further down ‘stream’ the Majnoun marshes, the home of Wilfred Thesiger’s Marsh Arabs, have dried up.
As I understand from 5,000 miles away, the main cause of the drought is Turkey’s damming of the Tigris and Euphrates, which has reduced the flow to Iraq by 70% (and to Syria by 40%).
gravenimage says
Turkey’s damming these rivers is indeed a big part of the problem.
Andrew Blackadder says
The mullahs in various islamic Nations will continue to preach hate until that hate will engulf them all and they become extinct, as self inflicted hate will destroy the host every time, either by cancer or otherwise.
islam teaches hate, revenge, intolerance, and this will be their downfall, it may take a while and I will not be around to see it, but it will eat itself up, as hate does so well…
There is no love within the teaching of islam.
Beneath the Veil of Consciousness says
So glad we sacrificed blood and treasure in that Islamic hellhole.
OLD GUY says
Gee could Allah be sending them a message that he doesn’t approve of their wide spread killing of his creations?
Bikinis not Burkas says
Nothing happens unless Allah wills it!