Severe Drought Affects Iran, Tehran's Water Supply at Critical Levels
Iran, particularly its capital Tehran, is experiencing severe drought conditions this autumn. Rainfall levels are at record lows, and water reservoirs are significantly depleted.
Official Responses and Public Impact
Officials have urged citizens to conserve water as the scarcity intensifies. President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that if sufficient rainfall does not occur soon, Tehran's water supply may be rationed. He further indicated that rationing might be insufficient to address the situation, suggesting that 'we may have to evacuate Tehran' if rationing proves ineffective. These comments generated commentary in Iranian newspapers and on social media. Former Tehran mayor Gholamhossein Karbaschi characterized the proposal as impractical, stating that 'evacuating Tehran makes no sense at all'.
Iran's meteorological officials forecast no rainfall over the next 10 days. The water scarcity is impacting daily life in the capital. A Tehran resident reported plans to purchase water tankers for household use. During the summer, Iranian rapper Vafa Ahmadpoor shared a social media video depicting a lack of running water from a kitchen faucet, stating he had resorted to bottled water for essential needs.
Dam Water Levels Critical
The manager of the Latian Dam, a primary water source for Tehran, reported that it currently holds less than 10% of its capacity. The Karaj Dam, which supplies both Tehran and Alborz provinces, is in a comparable condition. An elderly local resident noted the dam's low water level. According to Mohammad-Ali Moallem, the manager of the Karaj Dam, rainfall has decreased by 92% compared to the previous year. He stated that the reservoir contains only eight percent water, with a portion considered unusable 'dead water'.
Potential Water Cuts and Wider Crisis
The government is relying on late autumn rain, though meteorological forecasts indicate continued dry conditions. Iran's Minister of Energy, Abbas Ali Abadi, stated that the situation may necessitate water supply reductions, including potential nightly cessation of water flow. Officials have also announced plans to penalize households and businesses for excessive water consumption.
Minister Ali Abadi attributed a portion of Tehran's water crisis to water leakage from the capital's century-old infrastructure. He also cited the recent 12-day conflict with Israel, during which the northern Tehran neighborhood of Tajrish was targeted on June 15. Videos subsequently depicted significant flooding in the area. The day after the strike, the Israel Defence Forces stated it had targeted Iranian military 'command centers'.
The crisis extends beyond Tehran. Ahmad Vazifeh, head of Iran's National Centre for Climate and Drought Crisis Management, reported that dams in provinces such as West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan, and Markazi are also in a critical state, with water levels in single-digit percentages. In Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city, officials have expressed concern. The Governor of Khorasan Razavi Province indicated that Mashhad's dam reserves have dropped to below eight percent, characterizing the province as facing a significant drought challenge. The CEO of Mashhad's Water and Wastewater Company, Hossein Esmaeilian, reported the city's main dam storage level below three percent, with only three percent of the combined capacity of Mashhad's four water-supplying dams (Torogh, Kardeh, Doosti, and Ardak) remaining. He added that, excluding Doosti Dam, the other three are out of operation.