Water Scarcity in Erbil City: Problems and Innovative Solution

Abstract

Water scarcity and shortages has become a chronic problem in many parts of the world. This problem is more sever in some regions and countries than others. This problem is becoming persistent in the Middle East generally and in Iraq specifically even in the northern cities such as Erbil. The problem of water scarcity is affecting the life of humans because it affects many sectors of life such as agriculture, industry, and tourism. This problem has started to affect the relationship between countries and it is predicted to be the cause for many wars in the future. The reasons for water scarcity and shortages could be lack of rain, lack of storage capacity, and waste. This research paper is an academic attempt to study the causes and effects of water scarcity and shortage in the city of Erbil in the region of Kurdistan of Iraq. In this research paper we suggest innovative solutions for the problem in terms of suggesting plans to build underground water storage tanks for increasing storage capacity of the city in order to benefit from the water in the no-rain season and to protect the city from floods and dust storms. Keywords: Water Scarcity, Water Shortage, Water Storage, Water Waste. Published: 1/6/2022 DOI:http://doi.org/10.24086/cocos2022/paper.760 https://conferences.cihanuniversity.edu.iq/index.php/COCOS/22/paper/view/760