Warning… another meter to drop, Euphrates Dam could stop operating

The Euphrates Dam Lake is suffering an unprecedented crisis because the Turkish occupation state reduces the quantity of flowing water and the Tishrin Dam has been closed as a result of occupation and its mercenaries' attacks.

Experts believe the Euphrates Dam's situation with water is at its climax, where an increased likelihood of power disruption, agriculture disutility, and an outbreak of stagnant water-causing diseases loom.

Imad Obeid, North and East Syria Dams Administration's administrator, asserted ANHA's agency

"We are witnessing a record drop in the water level of the Euphrates Dam lake due to multiple reasons, mainly the decrease in water discharge from the Turkish side and suspension of the operation of the Tishrin Dam, which impacted the water level greatly."

According to the administration, the water flow has never exceeded 250 cubic meters per second, while the 1987 international agreement requires a flow of 500 cubic meters per second. The administration has never made up for this deficit as promised.

The decrease in flow has caused the lake to lose approximately 4 billion cubic meters of its effective storage, while the total storage of the dam is approximately 14 billion cubic meters. Its water level has also decreased by 6 meters from its peak level of 304 meters above sea level.

He emphasized that the numbers as they are shocking, indicating that the lake is only one meter below the level at which the Euphrates Dam would cease to function entirely, and therefore a total power blackout in areas that rely on the power generated by the dam.

As regards precautionary measures, Obaid explained that a decision has been made to rationalize the consumption of electricity, and electricity will be supplied from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. to service lines and from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. to civilian lines.

He mentioned that the current flow rate of the water is 250 cubic meters per second, yet it is not flowing entirely. Approximately 80 meters of it evaporate, and approximately 70 meters are extracted through the Khafsa and Babiri pumps to supply Aleppo with drinking water and irrigation.

80 cubic meters are also channeled to provide the Balikh irrigation canal, and more than 350 cubic meters are diverted every day towards Iraq, draining the strategic lake reserves and causing a daily loss of water levels ranging from 5 to 6 centimeters.

Threats of Health and Environmental Consequences

Concluding his remarks, Obaid threatened with severe health and environmental consequences, claiming:

"If the current situation continues, the impact will not only be limited to electricity, but will also propagate to the health of people, the environment, and their livelihoods."

Such occurrences take place during a Syrian drought season due to the lack of rainfall this year that has directly impacted on the agricultural sector and livestock.

T/S

ANHA