Integrated Approaches to Water Resource Management in Anbar Province, Iraq: Strategies for Addressing Scarcity and Enhancing Agricultural Sustainability

The critical challenge of addressing water scarcity in Anbar Province, Iraq, necessitates the adoption of integrated water resource management strategies to meet the escalating demand for water.This study evaluates the potential of three scenarios over a 30-year period (2010-2040) to mitigate water shortages and enhance agricultural sustainability.Data were collected through site visits and extensive reviews of literature pertaining to water resource integration.The Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) model, combined with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), was employed to simulate and analyse the scenarios.The baseline scenario relied exclusively on surface water resources, representing current conditions.The second scenario introduced treated wastewater for irrigation alongside surface water, while the third scenario incorporated groundwater resources in addition to surface water.Results indicated that the second and third scenarios could reduce unmet water demand by 36% and 84%, respectively, by 2040 when compared to the baseline.These findings underscore the effectiveness of integrating treated wastewater and groundwater resources to alleviate water shortages and support sustainable irrigation practices.Based on the analysis, it is recommended that a combined approach involving surface water, groundwater, and treated wastewater be implemented to ensure the sustainable management of water resources in Anbar Province.Such integration is anticipated to address water scarcity while enhancing agricultural productivity and long-term resilience to resource constraints in Iraq.