Water salinity hurting farmers, livestock in Iraq
Summary
In southern Iraq, water salinity has reached high levels, harming farming and livestock. This problem is due to reduced freshwater flow from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, worsened by pollution and poor water management. Farmers and residents are struggling with decreased water quality and availability, leading to challenges in agriculture and displacement.Key Facts
- High salt levels in water are making it unsuitable for drinking and harming livestock in southern Iraq.
- The salinity in central Basra has risen from 2,600 parts per million (ppm) last year to nearly 29,000 ppm.
- Freshwater should have less than 1,000 ppm of salt; ocean water has about 35,000 ppm.
- The Tigris and Euphrates rivers are critical water sources, facing reduced flow and pollution.
- Iraq's water management is impacted by climate change and cross-border water policy issues.
- Rising salinity has destroyed crops and displaced around 170,000 people due to water scarcity.
- The Iraqi government plans to build a desalination plant in Basra to improve water quality.
- Local fish stocks are also being affected by the increasing salinity in the water.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.