Iran’s Aging Pipeline Network; 15% of Treated Water is Wasted

Iran’s Water and Wastewater Company states that approximately 15 percent of the country’s treated water is lost due to the deteriorated condition of the transmission and distribution network, and there are similar losses of treated water as well.

The company announced on Tuesday, November 25, in a report that last year, 1 billion and 257 million cubic meters of the country’s treated water was lost in network leaks; in other words, 15 percent of treated water was wasted without reaching consumers.

Also, in the previous solar year, 411 million cubic meters of consumption reached unauthorized purposes, and the consumption of 528 million cubic meters of treated water remained unknown due to inaccuracy of water measurement equipment in billing to customers.

Thus, approximately 28 percent of treated water was either lost in the network or reached illegal uses. Iran has faced water challenges over the past few years, and this summer’s water crisis gripped many provinces, particularly in the south of the country.

Meanwhile, official statistics indicate that the country’s dam water reserves have dropped to less than 40 percent, and for the first time this year, there is a risk of drinking water crisis in winter as well.

This report states that the amount of treated water wasted in Iran is five times that of Germany.

The aforementioned report did not specify which official report its reference to Germany’s water waste rate is based on, but according to statistics from Germany’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, water consumption in households in this country with a population similar to Iran is approximately 6.4 billion cubic meters per year, with 96 percent of urban wastewater also being sent back to treatment plants for reuse in industrial and agricultural sectors.

Wastewater treatment capacity in Iran is reported to be only 700 million cubic meters per year.

Source: Radio Farda