Concurrent with the final construction phase of Azad Dam in Kurdistan Province, executive operations for transferring water from the dam to Sanandaj Water Treatment Plant will start by the end of the current Persian calendar year (March), managing director of the provincial Regional Water Company said.
The project will supply drinking water to Sanandaj, the provincial capital that has a population of about 400,000, Kamran Khorram was reported as saying by the Energy Ministry news portal Paven.
A 30-km water transmission line will connect Azad Dam to the Sanandaj Water Treatment Plant. The project is estimated to cost $14 million.
With a capacity of 300 mcm, Azad Dam is being built on the Gura River 75 km from Sanandaj-Marivan Road. Water from the dam will also to be supplied to the Qorveh and Dehgolan plains and used to generate electricity at a 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.
Referring to the 704 mcm deficit of groundwater reservoirs in the province, Khorram said, “The highest deficit is in the Dehgolan plain with 540 mcm, Chardavol 86 mcm and Qorveh 55 mcm.
Other Projects
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 have access to potable water. Currently, 60% of the water for Kurdistan is supplied from surface and dam water and 40% via groundwater resources.
Kurdistan 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. Wheat, barley, grains and fruits are the major products. Industries in the region include chemicals, metal, textiles, leather and food.
Despite good rainfall since the beginning of the current water year in September, water storage in the dams has declined. At present, 517 million cubic meters of water is stored, which is 12 mcm less than the same time last year, Khorram said.
Regarding rural water supply, he said since last year 217 villages home to over 86,000 people have been provided with fresh water and another 44,000 living in 75 villages will be supplied potable water before they fiscal year is out in March. The entire urban population of Kurdistan and 80% of the rural dwellers have access to safe drinking water.
