Shafaq News- Basra
Water salinity levels declined across southern Iraq’s Basraprovince compared with last year, with total dissolved solids (TDS) in theprovincial center falling to 5,100 from 14,420, the local Directorate of WaterResources said on Friday.
According to an official document, total dissolved solids(TDS) at the Tigris River in Al-Qurnah fell to 1,020, down from 1,300 in 2025.The Euphrates River in Al-Madinah declined to 1,420 from 1,540, while Al-Dairrecorded 1,255, compared with 1,565 last year. Salinity at Kutayban alsodropped sharply to 2,510 from 5,700.
Elsewhere, TDS levels in Abu Al-Khasib recorded 5,600, downfrom 17,400, while Saihan fell to 17,430 from 29,400, reflecting a markeddecline in levels recorded at the province's monitoring stations.
The province has faced severe water salinity for years, withsupplies at times becoming unsuitable even for household use, according to dataobtained by Shafaq News. The crisis was driven by prolonged drought between2020 and 2025, declining rainfall, and reduced water flows in the Tigris andEuphrates rivers from upstream countries, allowing saltwater from the Gulf toadvance further inland toward the city.
: Basra’s lifeline poisoned: Salinity and pollution threaten Iraq’s south
