By Furat al-Rehayyil
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – Khalil’s children experienced an acute diarrhea as a result of drinking water directly from the Euphrates River in the eastern countryside of Raqqa, northern Syria.
Khalil al-Zahir, 45, a resident of Tell Beydar village, eastern Raqqa, described the Euphrates’ water as “polluted and undrinkable.” He attributed this problem to the declining water levels of the river and the intrusion of the Balikh River into the Euphrates.
According to the 1987 agreement signed between Damascus and Ankara regarding the Euphrates River, Syria’s share of water coming from Turkey is no less than 500 cubic meters per second on average, equivalent to 2,500 barrels. However, that share has fallen below 200 cubic meters per second.
The Balikh River, known for its non-potable quality and unsuitability for showering, has been increasing the contamination of the Euphrates River. Both rivers merge in the eastern part of Raqqa and they have similar water levels.
Balikh River originates from Ain al-Arous village near the Syrian-Turkish border. The water of the agricultural drainage channels, which contain a high concentration of salts and chemical substances from fertilizers, constitutes more than half of its water.
Like the majority of residents in eastern countryside of Raqqa, al-Zahir complains about the pollution of the Euphrates River and the high levels of impurities and sediment in its waters.
For about a year now, the Raqqa Water Directorate, affiliated with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), has been warning against direct use of the Euphrates River’s water due to the high bacterial content. This increase is attributed to the low water levels caused by Turkey withholding the river’s water since February 2020.
Muhammad al-Sadhan, a 31-year-old resident of Tel Beydar, finds himself compelled to purchase clean water in order to safeguard the health of his children. In addition, he has also drilled a well to ensure water supply for watering trees and household chores.
Euphrates River has become a hotbed for bacteria which leads to many diseases amid local and international fears and warnings, especially after the cholera epidemic in Syria a year ago.
High levels of pollution and impurities in the Euphrates causes stomach pain and diarrhea.
Amid the steep costs of drinking water, the majority of people are unable to find viable alternatives to the Euphrates River. Consequently, some individuals resort to boiling the river water to make it suitable for drinking.