ABSTRACT

The Tigris, Euphrates, Karkheh, and Karun rivers, which form the Shatt al-Arab estuary, contribute to meeting water demands in Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq. The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers are the primary water sources in Iraq. Water flow into the nearby marshes has been altered and inflows into the Shatt al-Arab River from this source have largely decreased. Water scarcity is a most serious problem in the region. The ongoing water resource management and development policies of the riparian countries are most often developed unilaterally. The region is facing a serious problem of increased water salinity for human uses which have detrimental impacts when used for drinking and other domestic purposes. The combination of tidal and river discharge fluctuations makes it difficult to recognize the real extent of seawater intrusion and its impact on the longitudinal salinity pattern along the river under different conditions.