Republic of IraqRepublic of IraqBoard of Supreme AuditBoard of Supreme Audit

Pollution of the Tigris Pollution of the Tigris RiverRiver

44thth Seminar on Environmental Auditing Seminar on Environmental Auditing18 – 20 September 2012 18 – 20 September 2012

Penang, MalaysiaPenang, Malaysia

IntroductionIntroduction

The Iraqi Board of Supreme Audit works under The Iraqi Board of Supreme Audit works under the law No (31) on 2011, and ones of its the law No (31) on 2011, and ones of its significant tasks according to this low as significant tasks according to this low as follows:follows:

• Control and audit the accounts of the Control and audit the accounts of the entities that submitting to his control, and entities that submitting to his control, and checking the integrity of disposition of the checking the integrity of disposition of the public funds, and the effectiveness of public funds, and the effectiveness of applying laws, rules and regulations.applying laws, rules and regulations.

• Controlling performance evaluation for the Controlling performance evaluation for the entities that submitting to his control entities that submitting to his control including the environmental auditing. including the environmental auditing.

• Provide technical assistant in accounting, Provide technical assistant in accounting, controlling and administrative fields, and controlling and administrative fields, and related administrative and technical related administrative and technical matters. matters.

Technical Auditing (Specialized)Technical Auditing (Specialized)

Through technical auditing (specialized) Through technical auditing (specialized) experiences, were the importance of Tigris experiences, were the importance of Tigris river pollution problem in Iraq was river pollution problem in Iraq was identified, were all the governorates that identified, were all the governorates that the river goes through suffers from this the river goes through suffers from this problem (pollution), because of that, Board problem (pollution), because of that, Board of Supreme Audit formed a work group from of Supreme Audit formed a work group from the related technical specializations the related technical specializations (Environmental, chemical, Biological and (Environmental, chemical, Biological and Agricultural Engineers) to conduct field Agricultural Engineers) to conduct field audit on the polluted loads of the river audit on the polluted loads of the river through getting samples and match them through getting samples and match them with the environmental determinants. with the environmental determinants.

The Tigris is one of the most important water The Tigris is one of the most important water recourses of Iraq due to the huge annual recourses of Iraq due to the huge annual water revenues and the fact that most of the water revenues and the fact that most of the population depend on the Tigris .1415 km population depend on the Tigris .1415 km (i.e. 74% )of the 1900 km –long-Tigris runs (i.e. 74% )of the 1900 km –long-Tigris runs through Iraqi land .Along the few last through Iraqi land .Along the few last years ,The Tigris has been witnessing years ,The Tigris has been witnessing changes in water quality and quantity as changes in water quality and quantity as Turkish government is constructing dams an Turkish government is constructing dams an action which led to lessening Iraq’s share of action which led to lessening Iraq’s share of water .water .

The low water levels and the sewage dumped The low water levels and the sewage dumped directly into water without treatment cause directly into water without treatment cause a significant change in water quality. Below a significant change in water quality. Below are some polluters of the Tigris. The law of are some polluters of the Tigris. The law of environmental protection and improvement environmental protection and improvement no. 27 (2009) specified the protection no. 27 (2009) specified the protection methods of water pollution by prohibiting the methods of water pollution by prohibiting the following:following:

• Discharging any domestic, industrial, Discharging any domestic, industrial, service or agricultural liquid wastes into service or agricultural liquid wastes into surface or underground inland resources, or surface or underground inland resources, or into Iraq’s marine areas, only if necessary into Iraq’s marine areas, only if necessary treatments have been made to ensure their treatments have been made to ensure their conformity with the specifications set in the conformity with the specifications set in the national environmental regulations and national environmental regulations and relevant Iraq-binding international relevant Iraq-binding international conventions. These specifications include all conventions. These specifications include all discharges, whether continuous, discharges, whether continuous, discontinuous or temporary, as well as discontinuous or temporary, as well as taking the necessary procedures to prevent taking the necessary procedures to prevent pollution to reach the marine area from land pollution to reach the marine area from land whether by water, air, from coast or ships whether by water, air, from coast or ships and aircrafts. and aircrafts.

• Connecting plant sewage pipelines or other Connecting plant sewage pipelines or other activities to rain water drainage system.activities to rain water drainage system.

• Discharge solid wastes or animals’ wastes Discharge solid wastes or animals’ wastes or remains into water resources. or remains into water resources.

• using poisonous materials and explosives in using poisonous materials and explosives in fishing and hunting marine animals and fishing and hunting marine animals and birds.birds.

• oil wastes, remains of fuel or dumping oil wastes, remains of fuel or dumping ballast water of oil tankers into inland ballast water of oil tankers into inland surface water or Iraqi marine regions surface water or Iraqi marine regions whether the drainage be from stable or whether the drainage be from stable or mobile sources or the spills caused by mobile sources or the spills caused by loading processes .loading processes .

• any operations that cause pollution of any operations that cause pollution of surface water due to exploiting the banks surface water due to exploiting the banks only after obtaining the approval of only after obtaining the approval of competent authorities.competent authorities.

Ways of protect the river from pollution Ways of protect the river from pollution

• Not discharge liquid wastes.Not discharge liquid wastes.

• Not throw solid wastes.Not throw solid wastes.

• Not using toxic materials and explosives in Not using toxic materials and explosives in fishing.fishing.

Audit objective: Audit objective: measure sufficiency and measure sufficiency and efficiency of the Tigris river. efficiency of the Tigris river.

Applicable standards:Applicable standards:• Ministry of Health's law and regulations.Ministry of Health's law and regulations.• Environmental legislations established by Environmental legislations established by

the Directorate of Environment Protection the Directorate of Environment Protection and Improvement. and Improvement.

• Rivers and public waters maintenance Rivers and public waters maintenance regulation No. 25 (1967).regulation No. 25 (1967).

• World Health Organization's determinants.World Health Organization's determinants.

Audit Methodology:Audit Methodology:• Conducting compliance method-based audit.Conducting compliance method-based audit.• Conducting technical test method-based Conducting technical test method-based

environmental audit. environmental audit.

Results:Results:

• The Tigris is polluted with chemical The Tigris is polluted with chemical variables and the quality of the drawn variables and the quality of the drawn water from the Tigris is incongruent to the water from the Tigris is incongruent to the environmental determinants of rivers environmental determinants of rivers maintenance regulation no. (25) for 1967 maintenance regulation no. (25) for 1967 due to the existence of drainages on the due to the existence of drainages on the riverbanks of the Tigris that discharge riverbanks of the Tigris that discharge wastewater directly into the river without wastewater directly into the river without treatments, in addition to the existence of treatments, in addition to the existence of many unknown discharges.many unknown discharges.

• Spread and growth of reeds at the Spread and growth of reeds at the riverbanks, which sometimes hamper riverbanks, which sometimes hamper locating some drainages as these drainages locating some drainages as these drainages are covered by reeds.are covered by reeds.

• level of the river depth is varied in general, level of the river depth is varied in general, where sometime reaches reach to a depth where sometime reaches reach to a depth of (2.5) meters.of (2.5) meters.

• Existing processes of river dredging in Existing processes of river dredging in limited areas , this process requires limited areas , this process requires intensive efforts in order to clean, deepen intensive efforts in order to clean, deepen and widen the river to facilitate its flow, and widen the river to facilitate its flow, subsequently decreasing the amount of subsequently decreasing the amount of biological oxygen consumed (BOD5) and biological oxygen consumed (BOD5) and improving the quality of the water of river. improving the quality of the water of river.

• as the river runs through most Iraqi major cities like as the river runs through most Iraqi major cities like Baghdad, it becomes the final station for direct discharge Baghdad, it becomes the final station for direct discharge of industrial and service liquid pollutants without of industrial and service liquid pollutants without appropriate treatment such as those discarded from (oil appropriate treatment such as those discarded from (oil refineries, production industries, electric stations, refineries, production industries, electric stations, hospitals and sanitation water stations. This led to an hospitals and sanitation water stations. This led to an increase in pollutant concentration rates of heavy increase in pollutant concentration rates of heavy elements. such as: cadmium, silver, sulfur, biological elements. such as: cadmium, silver, sulfur, biological pollutants, thermal pollution, increase in chlorides, water pollutants, thermal pollution, increase in chlorides, water hardness, sulphate and dissolved concentration rates as hardness, sulphate and dissolved concentration rates as compared to natural concentrations i.e. the concentrations compared to natural concentrations i.e. the concentrations at first entry point of Iraqi lands according to rivers at first entry point of Iraqi lands according to rivers maintenance regulation No. (25) for (1967) (amended) that maintenance regulation No. (25) for (1967) (amended) that considers these enter concentrations are the standard considers these enter concentrations are the standard ones. Yet, we noticed a high- level increase rates as ones. Yet, we noticed a high- level increase rates as compared to those at the entry point. This indicates compared to those at the entry point. This indicates discharging pollutants in the river without complying with discharging pollutants in the river without complying with the environmental legislations stipulated that any liquid the environmental legislations stipulated that any liquid wastes must not d00e discharged unless appropriately wastes must not d00e discharged unless appropriately treated and according to each activity. Table No. (1) treated and according to each activity. Table No. (1) attached shows lab tests results of samples taken from attached shows lab tests results of samples taken from the river in Baghdad, while table No. 92) illustrates the the river in Baghdad, while table No. 92) illustrates the increase of concentration rates from the allowed increase of concentration rates from the allowed

determinantsdeterminants..

• Encroachments by some citizens and stores Encroachments by some citizens and stores owners by illegally connecting the general owners by illegally connecting the general sewerage network to rain water drainage sewerage network to rain water drainage network and then discharged directly to the network and then discharged directly to the river. This led to an increase in the river’s river. This led to an increase in the river’s biological pollution rates.biological pollution rates.

• Absence of legal procedures taken against Absence of legal procedures taken against the wrongdoers who directly discharge the the wrongdoers who directly discharge the waste to the river caused an increase in waste to the river caused an increase in pollution rates. pollution rates.

Recommendations:Recommendations:• In order to secure sound environment for In order to secure sound environment for

the Tigris, we recommend the following:-the Tigris, we recommend the following:-• Obliging all entities concerned with Obliging all entities concerned with

pollutant activities on water recourses to pollutant activities on water recourses to provide and install integrated treatment provide and install integrated treatment units so as to treat liquid wastes, and to units so as to treat liquid wastes, and to ensure conformity with environmental areas ensure conformity with environmental areas determinants.determinants.

• Due to importance of this process, Ministry Due to importance of this process, Ministry of Water Resources should dredge of the of Water Resources should dredge of the river to decrease pollution and improve river to decrease pollution and improve water quality. water quality.

• The Ministries concerned (Foreign Affairs The Ministries concerned (Foreign Affairs and Water Resources) should coordinate and Water Resources) should coordinate with countries sharing the river to with countries sharing the river to increase water level of Tigris.increase water level of Tigris.

• Reviewing river and public waters Reviewing river and public waters regulations no. 25 of 1967 and its regulations no. 25 of 1967 and its amendments and updating the allowed amendments and updating the allowed environmental determinants. environmental determinants.

• Constructing a net of modern drains in Constructing a net of modern drains in Iraq to improve water quality and Iraq to improve water quality and decrease salinity. decrease salinity.

• Forbidding use of pesticides in fishing and Forbidding use of pesticides in fishing and using environmentally-safe pesticide to using environmentally-safe pesticide to fight and protect plants. fight and protect plants.

• Installing central database under Installing central database under supervision the Ministry of Environment to supervision the Ministry of Environment to detect pollution cases as fast as possible detect pollution cases as fast as possible and put the required solutions. and put the required solutions.

• Expanding use of modern technologies Expanding use of modern technologies concerning the circulating and using concerning the circulating and using recyclable industrial wastes. recyclable industrial wastes.

• Increasing environmental awareness Increasing environmental awareness through educational institutions and media through educational institutions and media to avoid wrong practices harmful to the to avoid wrong practices harmful to the environment and preparing training courses environment and preparing training courses to promote scientific and environmental to promote scientific and environmental level. level.

• Installing guiding signs in specific locations Installing guiding signs in specific locations at shores calling for river safety. at shores calling for river safety.

• Using modern technologies such as Using modern technologies such as biological ones to treat water (method of biological ones to treat water (method of plant technologies) to improve quality of plant technologies) to improve quality of river and decrease pollution rate. river and decrease pollution rate.

Innovative Solutions:Innovative Solutions:Subsequently, we can see how serious the Subsequently, we can see how serious the

environmental situation of the Tigris is, environmental situation of the Tigris is, which lead us to develop some remedies which lead us to develop some remedies which we expect to contribute to remedy which we expect to contribute to remedy this deterioration in the environmental this deterioration in the environmental situation, includingsituation, including

• Expanding and developing the treatment Expanding and developing the treatment units for liquid wastes which are currently units for liquid wastes which are currently exist in all sectors. Setting up new exist in all sectors. Setting up new treatment units for the various activities treatment units for the various activities belonging to the ministries concerned with belonging to the ministries concerned with the Tigris pollution and lack of those units. the Tigris pollution and lack of those units.

• Providing required equipments for Providing required equipments for measuring and control pollutants in water measuring and control pollutants in water exposed to activity and resulted from it.exposed to activity and resulted from it.

• Providing specialized technical personnel to Providing specialized technical personnel to operate and maintain treatment units to operate and maintain treatment units to conduct the required measures and tests.conduct the required measures and tests.

• Discussion and development of articles the Discussion and development of articles the provisions of public water and rivers provisions of public water and rivers maintenance regulation (25) for 1967 to maintenance regulation (25) for 1967 to include the determinants system of drains include the determinants system of drains and marshes. Developing the determinants and marshes. Developing the determinants of sewage discharges to include a number of sewage discharges to include a number of other key determinants of pollutants.of other key determinants of pollutants.

Impact and ResultsImpact and Results::

A ministerial Committee was formed from the A ministerial Committee was formed from the relevant Ministries to study the types and relevant Ministries to study the types and sizes of polluted loads in the Tigris river, sizes of polluted loads in the Tigris river, and provide treatment or reduction and provide treatment or reduction methods. The committee submitted its methods. The committee submitted its recommendations to the government recommendations to the government represented by the Council of Ministers. The represented by the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers issued its decision to Council of Ministers issued its decision to tighten applying the law of protecting and tighten applying the law of protecting and improving the environment.improving the environment.

Challenges and Obstacles:Challenges and Obstacles:

• Lack of information in Environmental Lack of information in Environmental Departments about the kinds and sizes of Departments about the kinds and sizes of the pollution caused by the lack of human the pollution caused by the lack of human and financial potentials, and the fact that and financial potentials, and the fact that the ministry was created after 2003 and it the ministry was created after 2003 and it focused on lifting and removing mines focused on lifting and removing mines because the country was a subject for because the country was a subject for several wars. several wars.

• Difficulties had been overcome through a Difficulties had been overcome through a process of cross-auditing to get the process of cross-auditing to get the information from other ministries such as information from other ministries such as the Ministry of Water Resources, the the Ministry of Water Resources, the Municipality of the capital and the Ministry Municipality of the capital and the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works. of Municipalities and Public Works.

Learned Lessons:Learned Lessons:

Because of the importance of water for being Because of the importance of water for being the key element of life and the importance the key element of life and the importance to maintain it in different ways, in addition to maintain it in different ways, in addition to the need for the cooperation of all to the need for the cooperation of all relevant authorities to reduce pollution, relevant authorities to reduce pollution, the Government responded to what has the Government responded to what has been referred to in this report, were been referred to in this report, were formed a ministerial committee for this formed a ministerial committee for this topic. topic.

Attached Table No. 1 Laboratory Tests Results of Samples Taken From Tigris In Baghdad

Location/ checks TDS TSS BODs

COD CA MG CI SO4 NO3 NA K O&G DO PO4 PH

Medical city near surgery hospital

594

380 5,7 58 82 41 78 190 2 43,9 3,5 0,2 7,8 0,5 7,8

Under rain station T1

529 44 6 104 93 28 83 236 2,2 46,2 4,7 22,8 8 0,8 7,7

In front of Abud al Mageed Hospital

484 23 1,8 80 82 29 64 167 2,6 57 2,3 4,2 6,8 0,3 1,7

Near silo 488 110 5,3 85 82 30 55 157 2,3 38 3 1,4 7,8 1 7,8

In front of east Tigris project

542 24 1,1 70 116 15 62 179 2,1 37,4 2,2 0,6 7,9 0,6 7,3

Al shab sewage station

424 24,5 1,4 60 71 24 57,9 90 1,8 39,4 1,9 1,2 7,5 0,6 7,3

Near al daura power plant

496 30 1 71 75 30 114 193 1,9 50 2,5 0,2 8,2 -- 7,8

South Baghdad thermal power plant

576 36,5 2 45 -- -- 64 170 3 -- -- 0,4 7,7 1 7,7

The environmental rates

-- -- Less than 5

-- -- -- 200 or more

200 15 -- -- -- More than 5

0,4 -6,5

8,5

ATTACHED TABLE NO.(2) INCREASE OF CONSENTRATIONS RATES THAN PERMITTED DETERMINATS THROUGHOUT THE TIGRIS

N# SUBSTANCE 2008 2009

Tigris entry concentration

Tigris exit concentration

Increase Increase percentage

Tigris exiting concentration

Tigris entry concentration

Increase Increase percentage

1 Chlorides 30.17 480.7 810.53 2686.5 29.72 545.35 515.63 1734.95

2 Water hardness

198.3 836.5 838.2

638.2

321.83 207.27 726.4 519.13 250.46

3 Sulfurs 56.2 567.9 511.7 910.5 46.25 379.3 333 720

4 Solids 255.4 2187.9 1932.5 756.6 238.5 1889.4 1650.9 692.20

N# SUBSTANCE 2010

Tigris entry concentration

Tigris exit concentration

increase Increase percentage

1 Chlorides 27.44 359 331.56 1208.31

2 Water hardness 184.58 505 320.42 173.59

3 Sulfurs 49.72 291.58 241.86 486.44

4 Solids 239.8 1362.64 1122.84 468.24

Thank YouThank You