ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Sunday emphasized the importance of the Erbil wastewater recycling project in supporting green initiatives and reducing environmental health risks.

The premier laid the foundation stone for the second phase of the project on Sunday, which concerns the recycling of wastewater through several stages involving screening, aeration, and filtration.

“Today, water in Iraq and the area has become a worry and a big problem, which is why early on, we initiated several important projects in the field of providing and preserving water and environment, such as constructing dams and ponds,” Barzani said in a speech.

The premier added that the project "will prevent the mixing of wastewater with natural resources and groundwater and also prevent contamination and waterborne diseases.”

The first phase of the Erbil wastewater recycling was completed at the beginning of November, where wastewater from the city's 120-meter ring road diverts through a line to the main treatment station, Ari Ahmed, head of the water and sewage directorate, told The New Region.

The initiative is considered one of the largest environmental infrastructure projects in the Kurdistan Region, with over 579 million dollars allocated from the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) budget and a capacity to recycle up to 840,000 cubic meters of sewage water per day.

The Life Corridor project is a separate initiative recently launched by the premier aiming to reduce wastewater flowing through collection sites by installing a retaining wall, planting trees, and treating water and sewage.

Together, the undertakings seek a healthier environment through reducing waste and transforming the sites into beneficial and green spaces, protecting the province’s residents from pollution-related risks.

The has launched numerous environmentally friendly projects in recent years to provide clean water to citizens and to support green initiatives by the government to protect the environment and boost afforestation.

It “will become a strong support to all our plans aimed at increasing the level of greenness in Erbil; among them are the Erbil Green Belt and Life Corridor projects,” he added.

The Erbil Green Belt is a major environmental initiative to expand green spaces and protect the city from unchecked urban development through the planting of millions of trees and the construction of over ten water retention ponds.