Iran Faces Severe Water Crisis, Tehran Residents Experience Evening Water Shutoffs
Iran is grappling with a critical water shortage due to insufficient rainfall this year, impacting both the environment and its citizens. In Tehran, authorities are implementing evening water shutoffs to allow storage tanks to replenish, and President Massoud Peseschkian has warned of potential water rationing.
energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi announced that water supply will be temporarily cut off to residents in tehran during evenings,with a corresponding reduction in water pressure. Citizens are being advised to install water tanks and pumps to mitigate the impact of these supply gaps. In some larger residential complexes, residents are already being asked to store water in bathtubs and containers, making water storage a daily necessity, particularly for toilet flushing.
President Peseschkian cautioned that if rainfall doesn’t improve by next month,drastic water rationing may be necessary. He even raised the possibility of evacuating the capital, Tehran, a city of approximately 15 million inhabitants, should the drought persist. Though, observers note that relocating the capital is a logistical challenge that would take years, if not decades, to implement due to the concentration of government and employment within the city.
State television footage revealed significantly depleted water levels in dams across the country, including those in Isfahan and Tabriz. The amir Kabir dam, a key source of water for Tehran, currently holds 14 million cubic meters of water, a stark contrast to the 86 million cubic meters held simultaneously occurring last year, according to Tehran’s waterworks director, Behsad Parsa.
Critics suggest the current crisis stems from the government’s prioritization of regional conflicts over investment in essential infrastructure like alternative water supply systems. The worsening water situation is fueling concerns about potential nationwide protests and social unrest.
Across Iran, rainfall levels are significantly below average. Fifteen of the country’s 31 provinces have received no rainfall since October. Tehran is particularly affected, with its primary water reservoir holding onyl enough water to last two weeks, according to the regional water utility.
Nationwide, only 152 liters of rain per square meter have fallen this year, representing a 40% decrease from the average.In October,a local official described rainfall in Tehran as “almost unprecedented in a century.”
Similar measures are being considered in other Iranian cities. In Mashhad, the country’s second-largest city, officials are evaluating the implementation of “nighttime water shutdowns,” according to Deputy Governor Hassan Hosseini.
