Water Resources Management to Investigate The Extent of The Gap in Wasit Governorate's Water Requirements and Potential Strategies for Mitigation

Wasit Governorate depends on the Tigris River for approximately 78% of its water supply. However, upstream dam construction by neighboring countries has significantly reduced inflows leading to a severe water shortage. Internal mismanagement has further intensified the problem, making the need for a balanced water management strategy urgent. To address this challenge, the study applied the WEAP model and CLIMWAT2 climate data, combined with FAO datasets, to simulate reference, current, and future scenarios As a result of population growth and climate change. Real monitoring data, including weather patterns, consumption rates, and distribution trends informed these. Results showed that the reference scenario covered only 9.61% of demand, while the climate-based irrigation reduced the deficit by up to 53%. The deficit was further reduced through the implementation of integrated and complementary strategies. Overall, the findings suggest that resolving Wasit’s water crisis requires both technological solutions and improved administrative practices.