Erbil’s drinking water now fully meets World Health Organization standards, as confirmed by the city’s Water Directorate. Officials highlight that daily tests ensure the water’s physical, chemical, and biological quality stays within safe limits. Teams collect samples from various districts and deliver them to laboratories for rapid analysis.
Zakaria Abdulkhaliq, head of Quality Control, explained that the tests consistently show clean and safe drinking water. He added that the results align with the health standards set by both the Kurdistan Region and the Ministry of Health.
Residents have already noticed improvements. Jassim Murad, a local citizen, expressed his relief, noting that water and electricity are now available around the clock.
Building on this success, the Kurdistan Regional Government has launched the Erbil Emergency Water Project. Prime Minister Masrour Barzani laid its foundation stone on September 8, 2024. The project’s budget reaches nearly $480 million, and construction aims to finish in less than 550 days.
When complete, the system will provide 480,000 cubic meters of treated water per hour. It will deliver 20,000 cubic meters of clean drinking water every hour, ensuring a 24/7 supply for the city. This upgrade is expected to solve water shortages completely for the next three decades.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the first phase. Several neighborhoods are now receiving the new supply, including Rashkin, 32 Park, Turaq, Alan City, Diyari City, Baghlumnara, Mamzawa, Qatawi, Zhyan, and others.
This progress marks a significant step toward ending Erbil’s water scarcity permanently.