Wasted Water in Baghdad Exceeds 25% as Strict Fines Target Street Car Washing

Baghdad is facing growing challenges in managing water resources, as official figures show that around 25% of produced water is wasted due to misuse and violations.

This level of waste places additional pressure on infrastructure and undermines efforts to ensure sustainable water supply in a rapidly expanding city.

Municipal authorities highlight street car washing as one of the main practices contributing to water waste, while also causing damage to public roads that have received significant investment for development and maintenance.

These practices have prompted stricter enforcement measures to protect public assets.

Violation Monitoring Mechanism

The enforcement process relies on documenting violations by photographing vehicles being washed on public roads, clearly showing license plate numbers.

The images are then forwarded to traffic authorities to officially register fines, ensuring transparency and deterring repeated water misuse.

Deterrent Fines and Awareness Campaigns

Authorities have set fines of up to 500,000 Iraqi dinars for washing cars on public streets, alongside awareness campaigns across media platforms.

These measures aim to promote responsible water consumption and reduce behaviors that strain public services and infrastructure.