Legal Obstacles to Water Harvesting in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Their Legislative Treatment: A Legal Geography Study

Abstract

This study addresses the legal obstacles facing water harvesting projects in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq from a legal-geographical perspective, considering the Water Management and Protection Law provisions in the Kurdistan Region No. 4 of 2022 and other applicable laws. Due to climate change indicators and the scarcity of water resources caused by decreased precipitation, rising temperatures, and the misuse of water resources, attention has shifted toward methods for renewing and developing water resources, with water harvesting being one of the most prominent. Despite the significant importance of this technique in ensuring water security in the Kurdistan Region, it has not received adequate attention from the relevant authorities. The study concluded that the absence of a specific law on water harvesting and the inadequacy of existing water resource laws are among the primary legal obstacles to implementing water harvesting in the Kurdistan Region. Therefore, the study recommends legislative reform in water resource laws, encouraging investment in water harvesting projects, and activating the Water Council in the Kurdistan Region to fulfil its intended objectives.