Citizens in the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan Region, Erbil, are now buying water at prices exceeding $50 per tanker, as water has been cut off for more than two weeks in most areas of the Kurdish capital. The private water tankers carry between 3,000 and 4,500 liters (some 800 to 1,200 gallons) of water that is used for drinking and washing; it generally lasts less than a week per family. 

A severe drinking water shortage hit Erbil over the last two weeks due to the region's drought. Erbil depends 65% on surface water coming from the Zab River and 35% on well water; the drought has affected both sources.

The Kurdistan Regional Government's directorate of water and sewage announced July 7 that the water crisis stems from the decrease in rain and snow, which affected the surface water. The drop in rain and snow coupled with the drop in the level of groundwater and the drying up of many wells is a result of climate change and also high demand, the directorate said.

Local authorities are now asking people to "ration consumption in the use of water and place float valves in water tanks to reduce any water waste.”