Law No. 2 of 2001 on Conservation of Water Resources.

This Law, consisting of 18 articles divided in 4 Chapters, regulates the utilization of water for purposes other than domestic use. The four Chapters are: Definitions and Applications (1); Provisions on the discharge of wastes into the public waters (2); Plans of public waters protection (3); and General Provisions (4). Purpose of this Law is to establish rules on management, utilization and preservation of Iraq’s water resources.
Chapter 2 is the core of the Law. It deals, inter alia, with how to dispose of or recycle waste water. It also prohibits either private or public entities of throwing or casting wastes into public water, unless after the obtainment of an approval to discharge those wastes as per the criteria and specifications set out by the Environment Protection and Improvement Directorate (EPID). EPID is also allowed to issue environmental restrictions pertaining to the quality of public water as well as the quality of water discharged into public water, sewage systems, or rainwater. This Law regards as well pollutant substances and radioactive substances which have to be treated before discharging into public water, irrespective of their economic costs. Moreover, the provision applies to the owners of small private businesses which produce wastes containing radioactive substances, while the shop owners need to apply for an annual permit or license from EPID to be allowed to discharge wastewater resulting from their activity into public water networks, sewage systems or rainwater networks. It is also prohibited: disposing certain materials (such as pollutants causing metal erosion, high viscosity materials and other non-disintegrated materials) in the vicinity of water treatment and purification stations; disposing carcasses, human and animal waste, decayed material, or other wastes of any kind into public waterways or river banks; washing in public water animals, their skins, intestines, wool or any materials damaging the environment or public health.
Chapter 3 introduces mechanisms for the preservation of public water. According to this chapter, provincial councils are authorized to protect and improve the environment through coordination with local peoples’ councils. They are also in charge to make plans for each governorate, to be presented to the Council of Environmental Protection and Improvement, to protect public water from pollution and improve its quality according to timetables. These provincial councils’ plans have to identify the sources of pollution in public water and indicate the proposed treatment method.