Even if this were related to the war, it’s really too late now for ‘what if’ speculations to do any good for finding solutions. Some US army units have trucked in clean water to villages, I’ve heard reprted, but the amount and regularity are,, by necessity,, very limited.

Shortages of clean water are a growing problem in large areas of the world, notably sectors of Africa along with other areas. Some predict that water will be the cause of the next round of wars, just like land has been.

When it comes to Iraq in these cases I can’t help but think about the corruption (in both money and attitudeI in its government departments. Too much of its own oil money as well as aid money evaporates before it can be used fowards the needs of the populace. It may be the case, however, that moaning about corruption in the ME doesn’t do any more good that talking about how we came to be in Iraq in the first place. It’s such an ingrainded part of the culture, that it’s very hard to combat. When bribes are seem as ordinary parts of doing business and making political deals, combatting the practice is tantamount to reshaping the centuries old culture. Much like spreading democracy, that’s a tall order.

Plus, the security situation makes everything worse.
Plus, the grwing rates of malnutrition among Iraqi children is a serious concern.

All public water supply systems in the affected districts have been chlorinated by the provincial authorities. In addition, water samples from the public water supply sources are being collected and tested routinely to ensure they meet potable water safety standards.

From Radio Free Europe:

…the most important factor will be finding out the source of the cholera. We continue to search for that source, along with our brothers from the health team from Baghdad and health authorities in the city of Al-Sulaymaniyah.”

Doctors said that most of the patients probably drank well water due to a shortage of treated drinking water, a common problem in Iraq during the summer.

Part of the issue is we have banned/restricted Chlorine in Iraq due to its use in some bomb incidents earlier in the year. Unfortunately Iraqi sewage treatment plants can no longer sanitize sewege, because they need… wait for it.. . Yup, you guessed it. Chlorine. Basically anyone living down stream from a big Iraqi city is drinking some prety bad stuff.