Client: Ministry of Water Resources

Opportunity

The Shatt al Arab River is an important water body for Iraq as it allows for agricultural production in one of the nation’s most strategic economic areas. However, the full potential of agriculture sector around the cities of Qurnah and Basrah has yet to be fully realized, hampered by decades of reduced flow and contamination of the Shatt Al Arabr, a poor and aging water infrastructure and a legacy of mines and unexploded ordnances in cultivable land.

In order to provide improved efficiency and water quality for local agriculture, the Government announced in 2011 plans to construct a new irrigation system on the Shatt al Arab River.

Solution

Later that year, Hydro Nova launched its services to design a sustainable irrigation system that will provide water for 93,250 ha of new agriculture projects along the Shatt al Arab from Qurnah to Fao. The scope of our work includes a topographical survey, a hydrological survey, numerical modeling for the Shatt Al Arab, geotechnical investigations, a salinity study including a simulation of project scenarios and subsequent valuation of salinity conditions, preparation of preliminary and final plans and specifications of the irrigation system and preparation of contract tender documents of the irrigation construction project.

The newly designed system, comprised of a network of canals, pumping stations and drainage technologies, is being engineered to cope with the environmental concerns including water availability, interaction with the local marshlands and saltwater intrusion.

Outcome

Upon completion in 2017, the Iraq will be able to put in practice a comprehensive irrigation design solution that balances water optimization with current farming practices, and ultimately begin the road towards sustainable agriculture in the region.