Euphrates Dam Increases Water Release to 825 Cubic Meters Per Second
The General Administration of the Euphrates Dam has announced a formal increase in the volume of water released from the Qadirani Dam. Effective as of Sunday morning, the discharge rate has been set at 825 cubic meters per second. According to Haitham Bakour, Director General of the Euphrates Dam, this rate will remain fixed for a period of at least ten days.
The adjustment is a direct response to a sustained increase in water inflows from the Turkish side of the Euphrates River. Over the past ten days, these inflows have consistently exceeded 1,200 cubic meters per second. Anticipating that these higher levels of inflow will persist through the remainder of the month, authorities have moved to regulate the discharge to maintain stability within the river basin.
During this ten-day operational window, the administration is conducting rigorous, continuous monitoring of water levels and flow rates along the course of the river. The primary focus of these assessments is to evaluate the impact of the increased discharge on the water situation in the Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor governorates. Current field measurements indicate that the conditions in both regions remain stable and within normal parameters.
Following the conclusion of this observation period, the administration will assess the gathered data and field measurements to determine future operational strategies. While the current flow levels have been managed effectively, Bakour noted that there are currently no plans to further increase the discharge rate beyond the established 825 cubic meters per second.
Despite the stability of the current water levels, the administration has issued a formal safety advisory to residents in the Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor governorates. Citizens, particularly those residing in close proximity to the banks of the Euphrates, are urged to exercise caution. Authorities have specifically requested that the public avoid swimming in the river and ensure that agricultural machinery and equipment are kept at a safe distance from the shoreline to prevent potential incidents.
This measure follows preliminary actions taken by the administration over the weekend, including the partial opening of the number three spillway. The Ministry of Energy had previously indicated that the discharge rate would be incrementally adjusted from 600 to 800 cubic meters per second, a process that has now culminated in the current set rate. These proactive steps are intended to ensure the safety and structural integrity of the river infrastructure while managing the increased hydraulic load entering the country from upstream sources.
