The European Union (EU) and Unesco recently organised a high level meeting on building a roadmap for effective groundwater management in Iraq, a report said.

This comes in the context of the EU-funded project entitled “Advanced hydrogeological survey of groundwater resources in Iraq phase 2 (Ashri-2)”, reported Iraq Business News.

Ashri-2 addresses water shortage and scarcity, and its dangerous outcome on socio-economic and cultural development, health, environment and eco-systems.

Since its launch in November 2013, Ashri-2 has delivered critical data, information and knowledge management tools required for sound management of groundwater resources in Iraq and deployed technologies in geo-scientific mapping of groundwater resources.

 “The workshop is an important step for this project and the nation. We are keenly aware of the issues facing our water, particularly those in our region. Groundwater tables are decreasing, in some areas by 100 metres. KRG looks forward to engaging in the discussion and has two requests: Firstly, the assistance in developing micro-dams for capturing water for agriculture and multi-purposes in the local areas, including groundwater recharge,” Abdulsatar Majeed, the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources in Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)  was quoted as saying in the report.