A severe water crisis is affecting Iraq. The country faces two interconnected challenges: the decline of its rivers and the growing pollution of the water that remains. EPIC’s response to this complex challenge is twofold: supporting public awareness to strengthen environmental stewardship and supporting practical, locally driven solutions.

That is why EPIC is proud to partner with Iraqi environmental organizations such as Waterkeepers Iraq. Together, we are advancing initiatives focused on environmental monitoring, public awareness, and scalable water solutions.

Who Are Waterkeepers Iraq? The Vanguard of Iraq’s River Defense

Founded in 2010, Waterkeepers Iraq became the first Waterkeeper Alliance affiliate in the Middle East and is now an independent NGO based in Sulaymaniyah. Its mission is to serve as the unwavering “eyes, ears, and voice” for the rivers and waterways of the Tigris-Euphrates Basin.

Their work is strategically focused on three key areas:

• Water Resource Planning & Advocacy: Promoting equitable water sharing, sustainable water management, and policies that protect rivers and vulnerable communities.
• Water Quality Protection: Monitoring pollutants and advancing practical solutions to safeguard water health for people and ecosystems.
• Public Awareness, Education & Community Engagement: Raising awareness at all levels, from schoolchildren to policymakers and community leaders.

EPIC’s partnership with this frontline organization, led by the visionary Nabil Musa and project manager Bnwar Rzgar Abdulrahman, supports these locally led efforts to strengthen environmental awareness and water protection in Iraq.

“Vanishing Rivers”: Making the Invisible Crisis Visible

How do you communicate the long-term impact of environmental degradation? You make  it visible.

With support from the Netherlands-based SGP-International, EPIC partnered with Waterkeepers Iraq on the powerful photo exhibition “Vanishing Rivers.” The project contrasts archival footage of Nabil Musa kayaking vibrant tributaries a decade ago with recent photographs from the same locations—many now reduced to cracked riverbeds and severely diminished waterways—visually documenting the effects of drought, declining water flow, and environmental degradation.

The project also includes a companion book featuring reflections on the cultural, environmental, and personal significance of Iraq’s rivers. In one passage, Iraqi Waterkeeper Nabil Musa recalls a childhood where the river was “everything… a restaurant, a garden, a teacher,” before lamenting that today “the river has disappeared.” Together, the exhibition and publication connect environmental change to everyday life in a deeply human and accessible way.

Hosted at The Culture Factory in Sulaymaniyah, the exhibition has drawn diplomats, academics, journalists, students, and local residents, including visits by the British Consul General and regional media outlets. A parallel display at Paia Studio—which also houses Waterkeepers Iraq’s traditional boat museum and boating club—has expanded the project’s reach across the city, with additional outreach activities planned for wider public audiences. By making environmental degradation visible and tangible, “Vanishing Rivers” is helping strengthen public awareness and engagement around Iraq’s water challenges.

Environmental Monitoring and Emergency Response

Beyond long-term awareness efforts, Waterkeepers Iraq also works to monitor and respond to immediate environmental threats. One recent example involved documenting major oil spills from illegal refineries that threatened local ecosystems and water supplies. Waterkeepers Iraq gathered evidence, engaged the media, and pursued legal action, contributing to official investigations and enforcement measures, including the closure of illegal refinery operations.

This work demonstrates the importance of locally grounded environmental monitoring and public accountability mechanisms.

Piloting Practical Water Solutions

Awareness and environmental monitoring must also be paired with practical solutions. One major challenge facing Iraq is the discharge of untreated wastewater into rivers and canals, contributing to pollution, public health risks, and environmental degradation.

To help demonstrate locally adaptable responses, EPIC supported Waterkeepers Iraq in developing a mobile wastewater treatment demonstration unit designed by Kurdish Iraqi engineer and designer Sabah Ahmad. Built in Ahmad’s Sulaymaniyah workshop, where sparks fly from welding equipment as components take shape by hand, the compact system represents a practical, locally driven response to a national challenge.

Designed to be affordable and easy to operate, the pilot unit is capable of processing up to five cubic meters of raw sewage per day for potential agricultural and household reuse. The project highlights the importance of local expertise and innovation in addressing environmental pressures while encouraging broader discussion around sustainable water management and scalable wastewater treatment solutions in Iraq.

A Unified Mission for a Water-Secure Future

At EPIC, we believe that long-term peace and stability in Iraq are closely linked to environmental sustainability and responsible resource management. Our partnership with Waterkeepers Iraq reflects a shared commitment to protecting Iraq’s waterways through public awareness, environmental monitoring, advocacy, and practical, locally led solutions. From documenting disappearing rivers and exposing toxic pollution to piloting wastewater treatment technologies, these efforts aim to strengthen environmental stewardship and support a more water-secure future for Iraq’s rivers, and for all who depend on them.

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