Water Resources in South of Iraq: Current State, Future Evolutions, Challenges, and Potential Solutions

Southern Iraq's water resources face severe threats from climate change, prolonged droughts, and mismanagement, endangering its agricultural and wetland ecosystems. A comprehensive review identifies critical challenges such as declining marsh water availability, rising river salinity along the Shatt al-Arab, and shrinking cultivated areas. The study highlights a lack of integrated assessments in the region, offering potential solutions for future research to mitigate these crises. Key indicators—water availability, salinity levels, and agricultural land coverage—were analyzed to provide deeper insights into the ongoing water scarcity. This research is vital for guiding sustainable solutions and advancing efforts to address one of Iraq's most pressing environmental issues.

Ethaib, S., Fahs, M., Mishbak, H., Fares, M. N., Makki, J. S., Alhello, A., Abbood, H., Hassan, S. N. A., Alrijabo, A. A., Azaroual, M., Baalousha, H. M., Baghdadi, N., Blanc, P., Duclos, J., Drapeau, L., Hariri, N., Hussein, H., Hassan, W. J., Hussien, T. E., et al. (2026). Water Resources in South of Iraq: Current State, Future Evolutions, Challenges, and Potential Solutions. Hydrology, 13(3), 87. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology13030087