The effect of climate changes on water resources management in Iraq (Case study: Haditha reservoir)

ABSTRACT THE EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGES ON WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN IRAQ (CASE STUDY: HADITHA RESERVOIR) Sundus Salah Fayyadh FAYYADH Master of Science in Civil Engineering Advisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Başak VARLİ BİNGÖL June 2022 Without water life is not possible on this earth, to progress economically and socially water is imperative. Iraq is one of the MENA (the Middle East and North African) countries, currently suffering from serious water scarcity. There are various factors that have contributed to Iraq's water shortage crisis, including shared countries' water policies. Climate change has accelerated in recent years, leading to water shortages due to changing weather patterns, such as droughts, rising pollution, and increasing human demand and usage of water. When the amount of potable and unpolluted water available in river reserves in an area falls below demand, ignoring sanitation systems and pouring rainwater directly into rivers causes pollution and deterioration of river quality, resulting in a water crisis. To address the current water scarcity, the current government should take action and develop a strategic water vision that includes regional cooperation and coordination, research and development, improving agriculture and sanitation, and a variety of public awareness programs to educate the general public. This study looks at the concept of vulnerability and its three characteristics (exposure and adaptive capacity) in the context of climate change and discusses adaptation and mitigation measures that should be considered to respond to climate change. 2022, 45 pages Keywords: Climate changes, Reservoir management, Water resources, Hydrologic modeling, Haditha dam,