Authorities signed a $423 million contract to launch a strategic project addressing Sulaimani’s chronic water shortage. Consequently, the project will connect Dukan Lake to Sulaimani. It will supply 480,000 cubic meters of water daily, thereby securing the city’s needs for the next three decades.
Hazhar Majid, director of Habika Company, said the project will start within a month and a half, once administrative procedures are completed. Furthermore, he added that the 122-kilometer project should finish within two and a half years.
The Ministry of Municipalities in Erbil hosted the contract signing ceremony, which highlighted the government’s commitment to addressing water scarcity. This event marked a major step toward solving the city’s water challenges, and it also demonstrated strong coordination between local authorities and the implementing company. Moreover, the Dukan-Sulaimani Line 3 Project will draw water directly from Dukan Lake. Therefore, it ensures the growing demands of the city’s population are met.
Bakhtiar Tahir, director of the Sulaimani Water Office, said current water supplies meet only half the city’s demand. He explained that completing all project phases will finally achieve the water shortage solution. Currently, fifteen neighborhoods lack a water network and rely on weekly tanker deliveries. In addition, thousands of households buy water from private suppliers.
The Sulaimani project follows the model of Erbil’s Rapid Water Emergency Project, launched by Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in September 2024. Meanwhile, Ari Ahmed, head of the Kurdistan Region Water and Sewerage Department, said the Erbil project will finish in November 2025. Consequently, neighborhoods will begin receiving water in December. Together, both projects aim to provide sustainable access for the next thirty years.
These initiatives respond to Iraq’s severe water crisis. The country uses more than 80 percent of available water. Furthermore, it ranks among the 25 most water-stressed nations globally. Iraq relies heavily on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. However, Turkish dam projects, including the Southeastern Anatolia Project, have reduced river flows to less than 40 percent of historic levels.
Reduced rainfall, rising temperatures, upstream dams, and years of mismanagement have all worsened the water crisis. In response, Turkey pledged in July to increase water flows by 420 cubic meters per second. However, Iraqi authorities later reported that Turkey did not fully meet this pledge. As a result, securing reliable water supplies remains challenging.
The United Nations ranks Iraq as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change. Consequently, millions face water and food insecurity. Moreover, mismanagement and climate impacts continue to worsen scarcity. Therefore, strategic projects like Sulaimani’s Line 3 actively provide a long-term water shortage solution, ensuring reliable access for future generations.
