ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - After years of water shortage, a project led by Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani is set to save Erbil from water scarcity and put an end to decades long grievances of the province’s residents.

For years, Erbil’s residents had suffered from intense water shortage. The scarcity had led families across the city to be obliged into buying water from private tankers, a process that at times could cost a family approximately around a hundred dollars per month.

The landmark project that Barzani inaugurated on Sunday is considered the largest water project in the Kurdistan Region and could save Erbil from water scarcity for at least another 20 years.

The project is set to have 20 large tanks with the capacity to store 300,000 cubic meters of water. 

It also incorporates a refinery for the water that can filter up to 20,000 cubic meters of water every hour.

The project is located on the Upper Zab river in the Kawrgosk subdistrict of Erbil and has a budget of 480 million dollars.

Set to be completed in the period of 14 months, the project will not only solve water scarcity for the people, but will also have positive impact on underground water levels.

IN GRAPHICS: The landmark water project inaugurated by Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Sunday is set to relieve Erbil from years long water scarcity issue pic.twitter.com/RnPOM1zVef

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Upon the completion of the project, over 500 wells in the province, previously dug in a bid to solve water scarcity, will be closed down, as a result revitalizing underground water levels.

“This project will resolve water scarcity issues in the province for another 30 years in Erbil, and we will consequently try to construct another water project in Qushtapa and surrounding villages,” Barzani said in the inauguration ceremony on Sunday, adding that with the completion of the projects, underground water levels in the province will increase again.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the owner of Hemn Group, the company that has contracted the project, praised Barzani’s efforts and promised their full commitment to finishing the project ahead of the designated time.

“This project solves a huge problem of Erbil,” Khalid Khoshnaw said. “This project will provide the need of over 1.5 million people as per international standards.”

“We ensure that this project will be conducted in an even better quality than what has been asked of us,” he said, adding that over 5,000 employees are set to work on the project over three shifts daily.