Risk of Water Cuts and Shortages is Severe; 210 Iranian Cities Face Water Stress
The situation affecting Iran’s major dams has been described as concerning. Water inflow in the current year shows a 47 percent decline. The situation in one hundred cities across Iran has been declared “red.” The risk of water cuts and shortages threatens vast areas of Iran.
Reports published by Iranian media outlets indicate a severe decrease in water inflow to major dams. A decline that could create numerous problems for residents of approximately 210 cities across the country.
Iran’s student news agency “ISNA” published a report on the status of Iran’s major dams, stating: “The status of the country’s major dams until the first of Khordad 1400 shows that water inflow from the beginning of the 1399-1400 water year until now has amounted to 25 billion and 290 million cubic meters, which indicates a 47 percent decrease in dam inflow compared to the previous year.”
This level of water inflow to the dams has caused widespread concern among residents of these areas. The capacity of dam reservoirs in Iran is over 50 billion cubic meters. This is while dam reservoirs in the 1399-1400 water year were only 57 percent full.
What does the decrease in dam water mean?
Last year, despite the inflow of 47 billion cubic meters of water to dams, various parts of Iran, particularly residents of southern provinces from Khuzestan to Sistan and Baluchestan, faced water shortages and repeated cuts.
This is while, according to statements by officials of the Islamic Republic, the water inflow in the 1399-1400 water year showed a 47 percent decline compared to the previous year.
Not only has water inflow to dams decreased, but water reserves have also declined by 27 percent. The reduction in water inflow has caused a reduction in dam water output. In other words, the water that was released into the supply chain to meet the country’s needs from dams has experienced a 35 percent decrease.
Hamid Reza Janbaz, CEO of Iran’s Water and Wastewater Company, says the number of Iranian cities facing “water stress” due to water scarcity in the current year has increased and reached 210 cities.
According to statistics from this center, the situation in 100 cities has been declared red, and residents of these cities will face more than 20 percent water shortage. Janbaz says: “This very issue has also sounded the alarm for water supply.”
The CEO of Iran’s Water and Wastewater Company says water cuts in summer are inevitable and “considering the extensive network and large number of facilities, this will naturally occur.”
The CEO of the Water and Wastewater Company speaks of the inevitability of water cuts in at least 101 Iranian cities in a way that seems like he is delivering good news to residents of these areas.
He adds: “We have no priority for water cuts. But we predict that the 101 cities declared to have a red status situation may possibly face problems and water cuts. However, we have no plan for this matter at the moment.”
Source: DW
