Rain storms increase water levels in Dukan, Darbandikhan dams by a meter
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Water levels in Dukan and Darbandikhan dams have risen by 1 meter over the past two days because of recent torrential rainfalls, according to their managers.
Dukan Dam currently holds 2.7 billion cubic-meters of water, said the manager of the dam, Hama Tahir Jalal. It is capable of holding 7 billion cubic-meters.
Rain storms have abruptly befallen the Kurdistan Region leading to widespread flooding.
Darbandikhan Dam can hold 2.6 billion cubic-meters of water, it currently holds nearly 1 billion cubic meters of water. However, the dam can only hold 400 more million cubic-meters of water, according to dam manager Rahman Khani.
The head of the Kurdistan Regional Government Department of Information Technology reported on Thursday that the region was experiencing “unexpected precipitation.”
There are 17 dams in the Kurdistan Region, with Dukan and Darbandikhan being the largest.
Dukan Dam currently holds 2.7 billion cubic-meters of water, said the manager of the dam, Hama Tahir Jalal. It is capable of holding 7 billion cubic-meters.
Rain storms have abruptly befallen the Kurdistan Region leading to widespread flooding.
Darbandikhan Dam can hold 2.6 billion cubic-meters of water, it currently holds nearly 1 billion cubic meters of water. However, the dam can only hold 400 more million cubic-meters of water, according to dam manager Rahman Khani.
The head of the Kurdistan Regional Government Department of Information Technology reported on Thursday that the region was experiencing “unexpected precipitation.”
Unexpected precipitation so far in Kurdistan Region pic.twitter.com/jMpbbZlvxP
— Hiwa Afandi (@HiwaAfandi) December 6, 2018
The aging dam at Darbandikhan was badly damaged by the earthquake of 2017.
There are 17 dams in the Kurdistan Region, with Dukan and Darbandikhan being the largest.
Environmental experts have been concerned over the Kurdistan Region and Iraq’s dwindling water supplies and increased demand.
The short-term effect of the rains could placate short-term concerns; however, systematic problems and the damming of natural waterways by Iran and Turkey negatively affect Iraq's watershed.