The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has announced a major environmental investment in the Kurdistan Region, allocating $280 million for a large-scale sewage treatment and rehabilitation project in Erbil.
Erbil Governor Omed Xoshnaw said that the first phase of the project, costing $288 million, will begin soon. This phase will focus on treating wastewater and rehabilitating sewage networks stretching up to 75 kilometers across the city.
According to Xoshnaw, treated household wastewater will not go to waste. Instead, authorities will reuse it to irrigate parks and public gardens. This step aims to reduce pressure on freshwater resources while improving the city’s green spaces.
He added that a second phase, estimated at $300 million, will be launched at a later stage. Officials describe the initiative as the largest environmental infrastructure project in Erbil’s history. Importantly, the project will help reduce pollution and prevent untreated wastewater from flowing into the Greater Zab River and contaminating groundwater sources.
The environmental project follows another major infrastructure effort already underway in Erbil. Authorities recently launched a separate $479 million water project designed to transport 480,000 cubic meters of water per day from the Greater Zab River to nearly 1.5 million residents. This initiative aims to secure long-term drinking water supplies for the growing population.
The investment comes at a critical time for Iraq. The country is experiencing its most severe water crisis in nearly 80 years. Strategic water reserves have fallen to their lowest levels since the 1940s. Over 70 percent of Iraq’s water originates outside its borders, making it highly vulnerable to regional water policies and upstream dam projects.
Meanwhile, the Euphrates River has lost more than 60 percent of its flow over the past two decades. The Tigris River is also shrinking. As a result, pressure is increasing on drinking water supplies, agriculture, and electricity generation.
Officials believe that projects like the new JICA-backed sewage system will not only protect public health and the environment but also strengthen water sustainability in the Kurdistan Region during a time of growing climate and resource challenges.
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