The project to transfer water from Azad Dam to Sanandaj water treatment plant is in its final stages, director of the project said.
“The project, which included the installation of a 27-km water transmission line from Azad Dam to Sanandaj water treatment plant, has registered 97% progress,” Habibollah Ali-Asghari was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
“One of the major water supply projects in the western province, it has taken less than two years and is almost complete at a cost of around $24 million. It will improve the quality of drinking water in Sanandaj,” he added.
When operational, it transfers 57 million cubic meters of water from Azad Dam to the water treatment plant in Sanandaj City.
With a capacity of 300 mcm, Azad Dam is built on the Gura River 75 km from Sanandaj-Marivan Road. Water from the dam will also be supplied to the Qorveh and Dehgolan plains and used to generate electricity at the 10-megawatt hydroelectric power plant.
One 87-km canal connecting the dam to Qorveh and Dehgolan towns will supply water for farming in the two towns. Water tables in the region have plunged by over 18 meters due to the excessive use by the farming communities.
In addition to supplying water to Sanandaj, Qorveh and Dehgolan, plans are underway to supplement water delivery to six other cities in the province from different dams, which need $80 million in new funding.
With the completion of projects in Marivan, Yasukand, Bijar, Baneh, Saqqez and Kamyaran, close to one million people will get access to potable water.
Currently, 60% of water for Kurdestan Province are supplied from surface and dam water, and 40% via groundwater resources.
Kurdestan is a mountainous region and home to many rivers, lakes, glaciers and caves. It has a population of 1.6 million who are largely involved in agriculture and livestock farming.
With total area of 29,000 square kilometers, the province has 17 permanent and 24 seasonal rivers.
Zarrineh River, 302 km long, is one of the longest rivers. It flows north and pours into Lake Urmia, located between the provinces of East Azarbaijan and West Azarbaijan, north of Kurdestan.
Sirvan River is another river that eventually join the Tigris River in Iraq. Simineh River is also an important river and an ideal habitat for marine species and birds.
Lake Zarivar is a waterway at the foot of high mountains. Its water is sparkling and fresh. Lake Vahdat Dam, to the north of Sanandaj, provides excellent opportunity for fishing.
The entire urban population of Kurdestan and over 80% of rural dwellers have access to safe drinking water.
The construction of Javeh Dam is also underway in Kurdestan. It is located 40 km southwest of Sanandaj in the eastern part of the province.
When completed, it can hold 350 million cubic meters of water, which will be used for agricultural and industrial purposes.
One of the main problems in the construction of the dam is the flow of sewage from 80 villages in Sanandaj to the Gavehroud river that will enter the dam. Since Sanandaj Wastewater Treatment Plant cannot fully treat the sewage, another treatment unit should be built near Javeh Dam.
