Sanandaj Sewage and 50 Villages to Flow into Zhaveh Dam; Water Intake Must Be Reviewed

Sanandaj – The governor of Sanandaj announced that about 20 million cubic meters of sewage a year from the city of Sanandaj and nearly 50 villages flows into the Zhaveh Dam, and called on the Ministry of Energy to review the dam's water intake.

According to Mehr reporter, Gharib Sajjadi on Wednesday evening at the "Sustainable Development of Javahroud" conference; "Challenges, Solutions and Future Prospects" stated: "Javah Dam could be the foundation of economic prosperity and development of the region, but neglecting environmental considerations and social consequences has turned its capacities into a threatening factor for sustainable development."

Criticizing the action of representatives of the Ministry of Energy in the province to draw water from the dam without obtaining the necessary permits, he described this decision as hasty and unprofessional and emphasized the need to re-examine its technical and environmental aspects.

On the sidelines of this conference and in an interview with Sirvan reporter, the governor of Sanandaj stated that one of the most important concerns about the Javeh dam is the poor water quality and said: every year, about 20 million cubic meters of sewage enters this dam from the city of Sanandaj and nearly 50 villages in the region; A problem that doubles the necessity of controlling polluting sources and evaluating the quality of stored water.

Referring to the apparent evidence of pollution in the reservoir of the dam, Sajjadi spoke about the unpleasant smell of the sewage and observed traces of sludge on its surface and bottom, and demanded immediate action from the Ministry of Energy to determine the role of the stored water and prevent the continuation of pollution.

He also emphasized the need to clean up polluting sources and improve water quality so that at least the possibility of using it for agricultural purposes is provided in accordance with health and environmental standards.

The governor of Sanandaj, referring to expert research in the field of water resources management at Kurdistan University, reminded the limited capacity of the province to develop dams and called for more serious attention to scientific considerations in decisions related to water resources.

The migration of villagers is a social consequence of the dam's drainage

Sajjadi pointed out the impact of the Javeh Dam water withdrawal on the lives of the residents of the region and stated: The consequences of this plan are not limited to environmental issues and have also affected the economy and livelihood of the villagers. In such a way that a part of the residents of the villages of Javahroud have been forced to leave their place of residence.

He considered the departure of the young generation from the villages of the region as another worrying consequence of this situation and warned that the continuation of migration can push the population structure of the villages towards old age and reduce their economic and social dynamism.

The governor of Sanandaj expressed his hope that holding the sustainable development conference of Javahroud will provide a basis for expert examination of problems, providing practical solutions and reviewing decisions related to the future of this region.

Worrying about the entry of industrial waste water into the Sanandaj refinery

In another part of his speech, he mentioned the situation of Sanandaj's wastewater treatment plant and warned against the entry of industrial effluent into the system designed to treat human sewage.

Sajjadi claimed: the wastewater of the petrochemical unit also enters this refinery; According to him, this issue can affect the performance of the treatment process and the quality of the effluent and it is necessary to be investigated by the responsible institutions.

Emphasizing the necessity of separation and basic management of industrial and human wastes, he considered the handling of this issue, along with the control of wastewaters entering the Javeh Dam, to be necessary measures to reduce environmental risks in the region.

The Javah Dam was built at a distance of about 40 kilometers from Sanandaj and on the Javah River, from the headwaters of Sirvan, and its storage capacity is nearly 90 million cubic meters. The environmental consequences of the water extraction of this dam, the quality of water resources and its impact on the life and livelihood of the villagers are among the issues discussed about the future development of this area.