The Karbala Health Directorate announced Thursday that tests conducted on water samples from treatment plants in the province revealed bacterial contamination, raising fresh concerns about public health and water safety in Iraq.

In a statement, the directorate confirmed that chemical and biological analyses identified the presence of Pseudomonas bacteria in the public water supply. The tests also showed a significant increase in turbidity levels, which officials said poses “a direct threat to public health and to the quality of water delivered to residents.”

The directorate emphasized that tap water remains the main source of drinking and household consumption for the majority of Karbala’s population, underscoring the urgency of the findings.