Several Iranian media outlets, marking World Water Day, reported a significant decline in groundwater resources and reservoir levels, as well as the ongoing water crisis and drought. The Minister of Energy warned of a water crisis in the provinces of Isfahan, Tehran, Razavi Khorasan, and Yazd.
Abbas Aliabadi, Iran’s Minister of Energy, stated on Saturday, March 22, that five consecutive years of drought have led to a decline in the country’s water reserves.
He emphasized the importance of implementing water consumption management programs and water recycling initiatives, which are currently on the Ministry of Energy’s agenda.
Nearly three decades ago, the United Nations designated March 22 as World Water Day to raise awareness about sustainable water resource management and addressing water-related crises.
“Preserving Glaciers” has been chosen as the theme for World Water Day in 2025.
Mohammad Javanbakht, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Energy, stated that 93 permanent rivers in Iran are fed by natural glaciers. However, the volume and surface area of these glaciers in the Alborz and Zagros Mountain ranges—such as Alam-Kuh, Damavand, Sabalan, Zard-Kuh Bakhtiari, and Takht-e Soleyman—have been decreasing.
Citing statistical data, he noted that over the past decade, snow accumulation in Iran’s glaciers has decreased by approximately 30%, while snow production across the country declined by about 20% during the 2010s.
Iran’s Challenges in the Global Arid Belt
For Iran, which lies in the world’s arid and semi-arid belt, water management remains a critical issue, even without the additional impact of climate change.
The state-run ISNA news agency reported on Saturday, March 22, citing Reza Shahbazi, Director General of the Geological Hazards Office at the Geological Survey of Iran, that since 1998, Iran has entered a prolonged period of drought, with all water balance levels in continuous decline.
Over Extraction of Groundwater and Drought Crisis
Ezzatollah Raeesi Ardakani, a professor at Shiraz University, told ISNA that since 1966, the number of water extraction wells has increased, leading to the drying up of wells, qanats, and rivers.
According to him, Iran has entered years of critical drought.
According to conducted studies, 11 provinces—Isfahan, Razavi Khorasan, South Khorasan, Khuzestan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Fars, Kerman, Mazandaran, Hormozgan, Hamedan, and Yazd—are experiencing the highest levels of water stress in Iran.
Official statistics indicate that approximately 80% of the country’s groundwater resources have been consumed, and dam reserves are in a critical state.
Previously, some experts warned that Iran’s thousand-year-old groundwater reserves have been depleted over the past three decades.
Repeated Warnings About Dam Reserves
On March 22, ISNA, in another report, referred to the condition of the Zayandeh Rud River, stating that in the current water year, inflows to its dam were 19% lower than last year and 53% below the long-term average, leading to a sharp decline in water reserves.
Previous reports have suggested the possibility of water rationing, particularly in the provinces of Tehran and Isfahan.
Hamid Ehsani, CEO of the Semnan Regional Water Company, described the water crisis in the province as severe on March 22, stating that half of the province’s dam reservoirs are empty.
In recent weeks, warnings about water shortages, emptying dam capacities, and the worsening drought crisis have intensified.
Isa Bozorgzadeh, spokesperson for the water industry, warned on March 18 about the significant drop in reservoir water levels and the critical condition of key dams in Iran. He stated that the usable volume of the Karaj Dam reservoir has been reduced to nearly half, with a large portion consisting of dead volume and sediment.
According to him, the Lar Dam has nearly dried up, while the Latyan, Taleqan, and Mamloo dams have experienced a 46% decrease in rainfall compared to the normal level and a 25% decrease compared to last year.
