ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Heavy rain and snowfall have sharply increased water inflows to dams across the Kurdistan Region, substantially strengthening the Region's water reserves, the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) agriculture ministry said Monday.

Rainfall this season was two to three times higher than last year in many parts of the region, Hiwa Ali, spokesperson for the KRG's Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources told the state-run newspaper Al-Sabah.

Ali said that the Region's dams have "recorded substantial increases in water inflows due to the heavy rains and snowfall. This has contributed to bolstering water reserves, raising water levels behind the dams, and providing crucial water resources to combat periods of drought."

The ministry spokesperson noted the Dukan and Darbandikhan dams together received more than 500 million cubic meters of water in less than a month, with water levels rising by about five meters at Darbandikhan and around four meters at Dokan.

The Kurdistan Region saw a wave of intense rainfall and snowfall in recent weeks, with several towns suffering from flooding, and snow piling up in city centers across the Region, in addition to higher-altitude regions.

In Duhok province, the main dam added roughly one million cubic meters of water, raising its level by "41 centimeters," while the Komsan dam recorded a similar increase, with water levels rising by one meter.

Ali told the newspaper that small and medium-sized dams in Garmiyan, Silaimani, Erbil and Duhok safely absorbed floodwaters, with many reaching near-full capacity.

Further increases are expected as snow melts in lower-lying areas. The improved water inflows will help secure supplies for drinking and agriculture and provide protection against future dry periods, Ali said.

The KRG is also moving ahead with a broader strategy to strengthen water security. Ali said that several dam projects have been completed, along with dozens of water ponds, and more projects are planned to collect rainwater, generate electricity and reduce reliance on groundwater.

The KRG's ninth cabinet has strived to better manage water resources and secure clean water for its citizens amid an intense countrywide water shortage.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani launched work on the Erbil Emergency Water Supply Project in September, which is considered the largest water project in the Kurdistan Region and could save Erbil from water scarcity for at least another 20 years.

Meanwhile work is underway on another strategic water project linking Dukan Lake to the rest of Sulaimani, aiming to end water shortages in the province by delivering around 480,000 cubic meters of water per day.

Ali Rashid, head of the Erbil Provincial Council, said the Region is shifting toward digital management of water resources using modern monitoring technology. He told Al-Sabah that sensors installed at dams and wells send real-time data to a unified digital system shared by relevant ministries and the regional prime minister’s office.

Iraq’s water resources ministry in November commended the Kurdistan Region’s water treatment projects as being of “paramount importance,” saying they directly contribute positively to other Iraqi provinces as the country faces one of its worst droughts in decades. 

Rashid said the move follows years of climate-related challenges and low rainfall across Iraq. He added that authorities in Erbil province have shut down about 1,600 groundwater wells and replaced them with surface water to protect long-term reserves. He also said two wastewater treatment and reuse projects are underway to improve water storage and efficiency.