Strategic Planning for Infrastructure of Diyala Governorate: Water Sector

Abstract

Infrastructure services are closely related to human life and development, as they are an essential indicator of the progress of life in countries. Infrastructure projects including the water sector are indeed the backbone of a country's economic development, providing many social, economic and environmental benefits. This paper aims to study the existing infrastructure (water sector) in Diyala Governorate, analyse the available data, prepare indicators of deficit ratios according to international standards, and propose possible solutions to address the problems in this sector. Data were collected for the water sector, which included the quantities of potable water supplied for the past eleven years. The results showed that the deficit rate in the water sector amounted to 32% in 2021, as evidenced by the deficit rates and the presence of clear deficiencies in the water sector in Diyala Governorate, and this deficiency does not result only from lack of availability, but rather due to a weak planning vision and the absence of future plans that take into account the increase in the governorate population. The results of predicting using simple linear regression using the Spss program version 26 showed that the demand for drinking water will reach 554,354 m³ per day in 2035. Three plans have been proposed to address the current deficit and future demand in the water sector, which is a short-term   plan extending from 2022 to 2025, addressing 50% of the current deficit in 2021; A medium-term plan extending from 2022 to 2027 addresses the current deficit once and for all, and a long-term plan extending from 2022 to 2035 addresses the current deficit and future demand in the water sector.