Erbil, Kurdistan Region – The largest water infrastructure project in the Qushtapa subdistrict is on track to be completed by the end of this year, promising a permanent solution to the region’s chronic water shortages. With a budget exceeding 222 billion dinars, the initiative will provide clean water to 72 villages, the town of Qushtapa, and the town of Bastana, directly benefiting over 63,000 citizens.

Maher Hassan, head of the supervisory committee at the Directorate of Water and Sewage, told Kurdistan24 that the project was launched under the direct orders of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.

“Currently, people must dig wells up to 700 meters deep to find water, and even then, the water is often unsuitable for consumption,” Hassan explained. “This project will rescue the region by providing a sustainable and clean water supply.”

Once operational, the system will replace 111 unreliable wells, many of which have failed to meet demand.

The project draws 3,300 cubic meters of water daily from the Lesser Zab River, which then undergoes multi-stage purification before 300 cubic meters are distributed daily to Qushtapa and surrounding villages.

The infrastructure includes:

Three primary storage tanks
15 secondary reservoirs
Three advanced treatment units
A 72,000 cubic meter per day maximum capacity to ensure long-term sustainability

Ari Salim, director of the Qushtapa water project, highlighted the technical sophistication of the system.

“Six high-capacity pumps extract water from the river, which then passes through large clarifiers to remove sediment,” Salim said. “After filtration, it is sent to the main station, which has a capacity of 12,000 cubic meters.”

He confirmed that 55% of the work is already complete, with a 300-kilometer pipeline network—featuring pipe diameters ranging from 800mm to 90mm—ensuring water reaches every household.

Valued at 222 billion and 37 million dinars, the project is one of the KRG’s most significant public infrastructure investments, designed to meet water demands for the next 20 years.

As climate change and population growth strain water resources, the Qushtapa initiative is seen as a critical step toward ensuring regional stability, economic growth, and public health in this rapidly developing part of the Kurdistan Region.