With decreasing rainfall in Iran and the absence of a proper system for protecting water resources, media reports indicate that water rationing is imminent in the country.
According to reports, water reserves behind Iran’s dams are in a critical state, and in the coming months, the water supply crisis will add to the country’s existing crises.
The government-affiliated Tejarat News website wrote on Friday, March 14, that due to reduced rainfall, poor management of surface and groundwater, and an increase in both legal and illegal well drilling for groundwater extraction, Iran’s water situation is disastrous.
Media reports on water reserves behind Tehran’s dams indicate that Lar Dam has only 11 million cubic meters of water, equivalent to just 1% of its capacity. Latyan Dam holds 8 million cubic meters (10% capacity), Mamlu Dam has 29 million cubic meters (12% capacity), and Amir Kabir Dam contains 11 million cubic meters (6% capacity).
In this regard, Issa Bozorgzadeh, spokesperson for the Iranian regime’s water industry, stated on March 10 that “the water reserves in Tehran’s dams are far from adequate.”
Additionally, Didbaniran news outlet reported that on March 12 that Ahad Vazifeh, head of the National Center for Climate and Drought Crisis Management at Iran’s Meteorological Organization, warned about Tehran’s water situation, stating that “four out of the five dams supplying water to Tehran are currently below 10% capacity, making the risk of water shortages in the summer even more severe.”
Meanwhile, Mehdi Chamran, head of Tehran’s City Council, announced that the water authority plans to drill 50 deep wells, each 250 meters deep, to provide drinking water for the summer. However, this measure could lead to the depletion of other wells and worsen land subsidence in Tehran.
Ahad Vazifeh also stated that the watersheds of the Karun, Dez, Karkheh, and Marun rivers in southwestern Iran have been among the driest regions this year, with rainfall in these areas decreasing by more than 50%.
He stressed that there is little hope for adequate rainfall in the upcoming spring and explained that, in a typical hydrological year, 44% of rainfall occurs in winter, 25% in autumn, 25% in spring, and a small amount in summer. Given that both autumn and winter this year were drier than usual, the outlook for spring rainfall is also not promising, which increases the risk of water shortages in the summer.
Images and videos circulating on social media show that in recent weeks, residents of various cities have experienced reduced water pressure or complete water outages.
Experts predict that with rising temperatures and increased water consumption, water cuts will become widespread and affect all cities in Iran.
