Provision of Municipal Infrastructure I-IV
Al Muthanna Governorate in Iraq faces a deepening water quality crisis. In the districts of Al Khidir and Al Daraji, some 140.000 residents depend on the produced water from 27 old and deteriorated compact treatment units that are inadequate, and unable to address the root cause of the problem: rising salinity levels in the Euphrates River. Subsequently the water quality is insufficient, and customers need to purchase potable water from private vendors, placing a disproportionate burden on vulnerable households. The existing network is partially old and requires rehabilitation and extension to connect all households.
In response, the German Government throguh KfW Development Bank is financing a comprehensive municipal infrastructure programme implemented by Iraq's Ministry of Construction, Housing, and Public Municipalities (MoCHPM), with the Office for Externally Funded Projects (OEFP) serving as the Project Executing Agency. The programme centres on the design and construction of a new Water Treatment Plant (WTP) to deliver safe, potable water in compliance with WHO guidelines and applicable Iraqi standards, alongside new zoning, rehabilitation and extension of the water supply system.
Dorsch Impact GmbH is responsible for providing engineering design, construction supervision, environmental and social safeguards management, as well as comprehensive institutional capacity building measures. Partners include ECG Engineering Consultants Group (Egypt) and Al-Mustashar Lil-Handasah / Engicon (Iraq).
Disciplines
- Municipal Infrastructure
- Skills and Economic Development
Client
Ministry of Construction, Housing and Public Municipalities (MoCHPM), funded by the German Government through KfW Development Bank
Duration
From 2024 to 2029
Location
Al Muthana , Iraq
Project Activities
Technical Component
- Reviewing and validating all available planning data and existing studies
- Preparing preliminary and detailed engineering designs for all infrastructure components, including the new Water Treatment Plant (WTP), distribution reservoirs, pumping stations, and distribution networks.
- Designing an environmentally appropriate brine disposal solution
- Overseeing rehabilitation of the existing water distribution network
- Preparing tender documents according to KfW procurement guidelines and FIDIC
- Managing procurement, tendering, bid evaluation, and contract award processes
- Supervising construction works and supporting the 12-month Defect Notification Period (DNP) including Operation and Maintenance of the WTP
- Establishing a Remote Management, Monitoring and Verification (RMMV) platform to track the project progress.
Institutional Component
- Preparing Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) in line with KfW Sustainable Guidelines and World Bank Standards
- Preparing and implementing a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and, if required, a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP)
- Delivering a capacity-building programme for the Al Muthanna Water Directorate (MWD) covering operation and maintenance of the water system, roadmap for introducing water tariff, public awareness campaigns, female and male equity strategy.
Impact
- Access to safe drinking water for approximately 160,000 people in Al Khidr and Al Daraji districts, with water quality meeting WHO standards and Iraqi national requirements.
- Reduced dependence on private water vendors, directly alleviating financial pressure on low-income households and improving public health outcomes across the project area.
- Strengthened institutional capacity of the Al Muthanna Water Directorate through targeted training in water management, O&M, and tariff reform, building the operational foundation for long-term, self-sufficient service delivery.
- Climate and environmental resilience, through a technically sound water supply concept and a metered distribution network designed to reduce non-revenue water and improve system efficiency.
Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to making a positive impact and supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This project contributes to the following SDGs:
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