2025-11-17T23:47:29+00:00
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Shafaq News
Heavy rainfall over Baghdad and several Iraqi provinces on
Friday and Saturday exposed ongoing challenges in Iraq’s sewage and
infrastructure systems, as main and secondary roads turned into waterlogged
areas that disrupted traffic and daily life.
Videos circulated on social media showing flooded streets in
the capital, prompting municipal authorities to declare a state of alert to
manage the situation.
Despite government assurances of early preparation for the
rainy season, widespread water accumulation resurfaced, raising questions about
service delivery, the effectiveness of existing plans, and the state’s ability
to implement strategic projects amid rapid population growth and urban
expansion.
Administrative Challenges
Speaking to Shafaq News, Mohammed Khalil, a member of the
parliamentary Services Committee, placed responsibility on the government and
local authorities for what he described as “failure in service provision.” He
highlighted that “the government calls itself a service provider, yet services
are missing despite available funds.”
Khalil attributed the situation to poor management,
allegations of corruption, and contracts with low-quality companies lacking
clear accountability. He noted that much of the current infrastructure relies
on outdated data, is unable to accommodate population increases, and cited
areas where residents have multiplied several times without upgrading sewage
capacities.
He also urged parliamentary oversight of provincial
administrations and the enactment of legislation to classify companies by
quality and performance, while holding public and private sector actors
accountable for deficiencies.
Read more: Iraq needs months of rain to refill rivers
Municipal Response
The Baghdad Municipality said the flooding resulted from
power outages at pumping stations during the first wave of rain. Technical
teams reportedly drained the water within hours overnight.
Spokesperson Adi al-Jandil explained to Shafaq News that
early preparations were in place, but “electrical faults” reduced the operating
capacity of stations running on generators to 50%, while stations connected to
the national grid operated at full capacity without rising water levels. Quick
coordination with the Ministry of Electricity restored power, allowing
accumulated water to be cleared.
Al-Jandil added that the intensity of rainfall required
extra hours for drainage, but emphasized that there were no technical failures
in the systems apart from the power disruption. Emergency pipelines and
secondary stations installed last year prevented flooding in areas that had
been affected previously.
He also outlined strategic projects underway, including the
Al-Police Canal project, designed to handle 400,000 cubic meters per day to
serve eastern Baghdad, and the North Kadhimiya project, which provides
pipelines and pumping stations for 17 residential areas before releasing
treated wastewater into the river. Al-Jandil described the recent flooding as a
“temporary delay” caused by electrical issues, noting that both immediate and
long-term solutions are in progress.
Read more: Beyond 50°C: How decades of conflict are heating Iraq
Five-Year Infrastructure Plan
The Iraqi Ministry of Planning linked current bottlenecks to
the need to complete infrastructure projects included in the 2024–2028
five-year development plan, particularly in sewage, water, roads, and housing.
Spokesperson Abdul Zahra al-Hindawi told Shafaq News that
the plan “gives substantial attention to infrastructure,” with several projects
already underway across multiple provinces. Completion of these projects, he
noted, will ease pressure on sewage networks and reduce disruptions in the coming
years.
Al-Hindawi added that the plan incorporates private sector
participation in certain infrastructure projects, particularly roads and
energy, which is expected to improve efficiency and reduce the government’s
burden.
