Sweltering Summer Strikes: Brace for Power Outages and Water Shortages!
Iran has been grappling with an ongoing water crisis, marked by an unprecedented decline in rainfall, severe drops in dam levels, and diminishing underground water supplies. This dire situation has plunged the country into its fifth consecutive year of drought, leading to significant challenges for residents, particularly in urban areas like Tehran.
As the water shortage intensifies, many neighborhoods in Tehran are facing water cuts lasting up to 12 hours a day. The crisis has been exacerbated by climate change, largely attributed to global warming. In response to the escalating situation, July 23 was declared a public holiday in Tehran to conserve electricity and water. Meanwhile, the city is currently experiencing the hottest week of the year, with temperatures soaring above 50 °C in certain regions.
One of the few places to find relief from the heat has been public swimming pools. However, the Water and Wastewater Company of Tehran announced on July 24 that it would halt water provision to both public and private swimming pools in the city until further notice, resulting in the closure of these facilities.
During a cabinet meeting on July 20, President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a grave warning regarding the water crisis, stating, “The water crisis is more serious than what is being discussed today, and if we do not take urgent action now, we will face a situation in the future for which no remedy can be found.” He emphasized that addressing excessive consumption is just as crucial as management and planning in the water sector.
Last year, Pezeshkian proposed relocating Iran’s political and economic center away from Tehran, highlighting the capital’s growing environmental and infrastructural challenges. Iran’s water resources primarily rely on:
- Surface water from rivers and streams
- Groundwater from aquifers
- Desalinated water from coastal regions
- Traditional methods like qantas (underground water channels)
Unfortunately, uneven precipitation has compounded the challenges faced by the nation. Estimates suggest that the ground beneath Tehran is sinking by up to 22 centimeters annually due to acute water shortages, primarily caused by the over-extraction of groundwater.
Looking forward, addressing the water crisis will require a multi-faceted approach. One crucial step is increasing public awareness to minimize water wastage and excessive consumption. Currently, Tehran’s per capita water consumption exceeds national standards, with most usage concentrated on drinking and hygiene.
Another significant factor contributing to the crisis is unchecked population growth. Over the past forty years, Iran’s population has more than doubled, increasing from 37 million to 80 million. Although water scarcity is a nationwide issue, it is particularly severe in Tehran, which has seen its population soar from two million in 1979 to an estimated 16.8 million today, making it the most populous city in Iran and Western Asia.
Tehran’s five main water reservoirs—Lar, Latyan, Mamlou, Taleghan, and Amir Kabir (Karaj) dams—are crucial for supplying the city with water. However, the Amir Kabir Dam, which utilizes the Karaj River, has recently reached its lowest historical level of just 22.09 billion cubic meters, as reported by Isa Bozorgzadeh, a spokesman for the Iranian Water Resources Management Company. This dam, located 30 km northwest of the capital, was constructed in 1961 to provide water and electricity to Tehran.
Similarly, the Latyan Dam, situated less than 25 km from Tehran and operational since 1967, has a capacity of 95 million cubic meters and is another vital source of water for the capital. Currently, it is reported that as much as 70 percent of Tehran’s water supply comes from these five nearby dams, yet state media reports indicated that as of March 5, the reservoirs were only 13 percent full.
Reflecting on past conditions, in May 2019, the Amir Kabir Dam was reported to be 93 percent full, a stark contrast to current levels. This previous abundance was attributed to exceptional water torrents that replenished nearly all provinces after a prolonged dry spell.
The current year’s water shortage is largely due to significantly low precipitation. The Ministry of Energy reported that rainfall barely reached 93.8 mm from early October to mid-March, a dramatic shortfall from the national average of 157.8 mm—a reduction of 60 percent.
Water scarcity has not only led to desertification but has also triggered extreme weather events such as dust storms, floods, and the drying up of lakes and wetlands, resulting in internal displacement as many residents are forced to migrate to other regions, including northern provinces and cities around Tehran.
Approximately three-quarters of Iran’s total landmass is classified as completely dry, with only seven percent covered by forests, primarily found in the northern region along the Caspian Sea. The lush landscapes and abundant water resources in northern Iran have attracted many climate migrants seeking better living conditions.
Addressing Iran’s water crisis will require long-term solutions involving a combination of technology, infrastructure, and policy reforms. Recently, Energy Minister Abbas Ali-Abadi announced that negotiations are underway to import water from neighboring countries, including Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Furthermore, Ali-Abadi outlined strategies to enhance water security in the Sistan-Baluchestan province by securing water rights to the Hirmand River, a crucial water source shared between Iran and Afghanistan. An agreement established in 1973 stipulated that Afghanistan would allow a flow of 26 cubic meters per second into Iran, yet this agreement has not been fully implemented due to political upheaval.
Another proposal involves relocating the agricultural and industrial sectors alongside the capital, although this approach may not provide a sustainable solution, as relocation requires water and resources. A more effective strategy would be to modernize agriculture, which accounts for 90 percent of Iran’s water usage, by implementing water-saving technologies and improving water management systems to mitigate leaks and inefficiencies.
Despite the record-breaking heatwave impacting the entire country, Tehran’s situation remains particularly acute due to its high consumption rates. The city consumes approximately four million cubic meters of water daily. Increasing public awareness of water conservation is vital, as discussions about power cuts and water shortages dominate conversations in Tehran.
Public education on reducing water usage and wastage can significantly contribute to alleviating the crisis. Additionally, empowering local authorities to manage and allocate water resources more effectively could lead to better outcomes for the city’s residents.
Photo: The Amir Kabir Dam, which passes through the Karaj River, has shrunk to its lowest level in history.
