Basrah city is the point where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers unite into the Shatt al-Arab. In recent times, the city has been facing a serious fresh water shortage due to a decreasing river level, which resulted in salt water intrusion. The salinity levels of the Shatt al-Arab increased more than fifteen-fold in the last year, as total dissolve solids, which measures water purity, increased from approximately 10000 to more than 28000 ppm. Although there are several causes related to this issue, the problems started in the 1990s as Turkey built several dams on the Euphrates river. As part of its GAP project, Turkey is now finishing the construction of the Ilisu dam on the Tigris river, which will have a huge impact on Iraq’s water provision. It will reduce fresh water levels in Tigris river by 25%. This impact will be mostly felt at the downstream end of the river, at which lies Basrah.

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