Oil spill in Tigris River contained, averting water supply threat to Baghdad

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) successfully contained a significant oil spill in the Tigris River on Monday, preventing a potential disruption of water supplies to millions of residents in Baghdad.

The contamination originated from flood waters near the Baiji refinery in Salah al-Din Governorate, prompting immediate emergency response measures.

In an official statement, the ministry reported that the oil slick is now "in the process of dissipating" following swift intervention.

General Authority for the Operation of Irrigation and Puncture Projects deployed emergency response teams to contain the spill and prevent its downstream progression from Tikrit toward Samarra.

Operations to restart water treatment facilities in Baiji, Tikrit, and Al-Alam district are currently underway.

The crisis first came to light on Sunday when the Salah al-Din Governorate Water Department detected oil deposits in the Tigris River near Tikrit, forcing the temporary suspension of local water treatment operations.

Department officials confirmed their teams are operating at maximum capacity as part of a comprehensive emergency response plan to address both the oil spill and the aftermath of recent heavy rainfall and flooding in the region.

Earlier concerns about a possible shutdown of Baghdad's water supply emerged when local sources reported the potential advancement of oil contamination toward the capital via the river.

The swift response by authorities appears to have mitigated this risk, though monitoring of the situation continues.

The Tigris River serves as a crucial water source for millions of Iraqis, making any threat to its water quality a matter of significant concern for local and national authorities.