Oil spill in N. Iraq affects Baghdad water

BAGHDAD, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Baghdad residents are being asked to store water as water stations may soon be contaminated by oil from a recent pipeline blast.

The Al Mashriq newspaper reports municipal officials said the oil spilled into the Tigris River, forcing the Baghdad water-pumping project to temporarily stop.

A “strategic reserve” of water will be pumped to fill citizen stockpiles for at least the minimum needs of residents.

A bomb exploded Tuesday along a pipeline between Kirkuk and Baiji that began leaking into the Tigris, and Baghdad officials had prepared for this measure.

The pipeline is a key asset to export oil to Turkey but has been rendered virtually useless since 2003 because of regular attacks. The pipeline had only been repaired and pumping limited quantities of crude for a few weeks.