Tehran Residents in Dispute with Water and Wastewater Company Officials Over Water Outages
A multi-day water outage has caused Tehran residents to clash with officials from Abfa (Water and Wastewater Company).
Several days have passed since water outages began in Greater Tehran. On Monday, June 22, the Tehran Water and Wastewater Company attributed the water shortage to pressure drops in certain neighborhoods and claimed the problem would be resolved within hours. However, contrary to Abfa’s claims, not only has the problem persisted, but more areas have also experienced water outages.
Videos published on social media platforms show that water outages have lasted for 4 days in various areas of Tehran, with water tankers being used to distribute water to residents in some neighborhoods.
Residents of various areas including Motahari Street, Starkhan, Vanak, and many other neighborhoods are complaining about repeated or prolonged water cuts. Citizens of these areas stated that they have contacted the city’s water and wastewater department and emergency services, but have received no response so far.
The Tehran Province Water and Wastewater Company issued a statement yesterday saying: “Due to rainfall, flooding, and extensive landslides in the vicinity of the Chalus Road, the water transmission route from Amir Kabir Dam to Tehran’s water supply facilities was blocked in the Karaj River bed. Following this incident, operational teams immediately arrived at the site with equipment and machinery, and work began to clear the obstruction in the swampy section of the river.”
The excuse about the blockage of the river and water supply from Karaj Dam is questionable, given that only some areas have been affected by water shortage and not all areas. The public’s protest is based on this: if the problem is with Karaj Dam, then why is there water in some areas while other areas experience outages?
The incompetence of officials and their failure to address the issue during Tehran’s hot weather has left residents of the affected areas without water, and no accurate information has been provided to the public about when water supply will be restored.
