Reduced water pressure, frequent power outages, and a shortage of storage reservoirs have made water supply increasingly difficult.
Despite ongoing efforts to provide a sustainable water supply in the capital, Tehran is on the brink of a severe water crisis. The continuous depletion of groundwater resources, ongoing drought, and land subsidence have sounded the alarm for the city’s water future. Water sector officials and experts have warned of the declining water supply capacity and described the current situation as “extremely concerning.”
According to a report by the regime-affiliated Mehr News Agency, Tehran’s heavy dependence on surface and groundwater resources, along with excessive extraction from wells, has pushed these sources into a critical state. The CEO of the Tehran Province Water and Wastewater Company stated that groundwater extraction rose from 10 cubic meters per second in 2020 to 17.5 in 2023. Although it has decreased to 14.5 in 2024, these resources are no longer considered reliable.
In addition, low water pressure, repeated electricity blackouts, and a lack of storage reservoirs have further complicated water provision.
Meanwhile, initiatives such as water transmission pipelines, using the elevation difference between northern and southern Tehran for gravity-fed water transfer, using treated wastewater, and integrating renewable energy sources like solar power plants are being pursued as part of crisis management strategies. However, officials have stressed that the success of these efforts depends on full coordination among executive bodies and public cooperation in reducing consumption.
Tehran’s governor, citing climate change and population growth, described the water crisis as the province’s most serious challenge. He called for strict enforcement of laws, separation of drinking water from rainwater, broad public awareness campaigns, and the use of control tools to manage consumption.
Experts have warned that if current trends continue, the environmental, social, and even security consequences of the water crisis in Tehran will be irreversible. Under such circumstances, intelligent resource management and public participation are the only paths out of the crisis.
