Iran's Water Crisis: A Looming Evacuation as Taps Run Dry
In a stark reminder of the dire situation, a new government poster in Tehran reads, 'Water Shortage! Autumn has arrived, but the rain hasn't.' This message is not lost on residents like Erfan Ensani, who recently returned home to an empty tap after a long day's work.
The crisis is not a recent development. Iran is facing its worst water crisis in decades, with no immediate relief in sight. The authorities are considering drastic measures, including the potential evacuation of the capital, Tehran, which has a population of 10 million. The situation has reached a critical point, with residents struggling to cope.
Ensani, like many others, is dealing with the consequences of the water crisis. He explains, 'We went without water for three days, and the pressure was so low that nothing came out. The water company suggests buying pumps and storage tanks, but these solutions are costly, especially with the current economic challenges.'
The crisis has led to a range of coping mechanisms, with some neighbors traveling across the city to relatives' houses for a shower. Families with children face even greater difficulties, incurring extra costs they cannot afford. President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that extreme measures may be necessary if it doesn't rain by late November, and the government may have to resort to rationing.
Tehran is in its sixth year of drought, and the situation is exacerbated by rising temperatures, which led to power outages and a public holiday last summer. The reservoirs are at only 5% of their capacity, according to Mohsen Ardakani, the head of the Tehran Province Water and Wastewater Company. The war with Israel last summer also damaged water infrastructure, further worsening the crisis.
The energy minister, Abbas Aliabadi, has warned that the government may have to cut off water completely on some nights to manage the crisis. The semiofficial Tasnim News Agency reported that water restrictions in Tehran have already begun. The government's concern is not unfounded, as a water crisis can lead to political grievances and unrest.
Videos of students protesting water shortages at Tehran's Al-Zahra University have surfaced, and the issue has led to violence and arrests in the Khuzestan province, where a large Arab minority has long complained of neglect. Many Iranians blame the state for the crisis, with restaurant owner Sadegh Razavi stating, 'The authorities have known about this problem for years, but nothing has been done.'
Analysts attribute the crisis to prolonged drought, overconsumption, an inefficient agricultural sector, and mismanagement, including the construction of mega-dams of questionable utility. Kaveh Madani, the director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, describes it as a 'state of failure' rather than a crisis, emphasizing the irreversible damage to the ecosystem and economy.
Researchers in North America had predicted this crisis years ago. Ali Nazemi, an associate professor at Concordia University, warned in a 2021 study that Iran was overdrafting groundwater, causing land subsidence, soil salinization, and the disappearance of salt lakes. The study, dedicated to the people of Iran, highlighted the potential for irreversible impacts on the land, environment, water, food, and socio-economic security.
Climate change, according to Amir AghaKouchak, a professor of civil and environmental engineering, has exacerbated the problem, but the root cause is the mismanagement and systemic corruption that allows powerful organizations to build dams without permits. Inefficient irrigation methods and leaking urban water infrastructure further worsen the situation.
Early warning signs were evident, such as the desiccation of Lake Urmia and the disappearance of the Zayandeh Rud river. However, there is no quick fix, and government officials are proposing drastic solutions, including cutting off electricity to households filling swimming pools. The most effective solution, according to Madani, is reducing citizen consumption, which requires trust-building, transparency, and proper communication channels, a challenging task for a country recovering from war.
