The Hindiya Barrage, crossing the Euphrates in the north of the district, was built by British engineers for the Turkish authorities just before World War I (1914–18).[11] It reduced flooding and transferred water to canals to support irrigation throughout the year.[12] The barrage diverted a large amount of water to the east of the river through the Hilla canal, and also diverted water into the Jarjiya canal to the east of the river and the Bani Hasan and Husainiya canals to the west.