Iran is grappling with a severe drought crisis, making it challenging to evacuate its capital, according to a UN expert. Kaveh Madani, the director of the UN University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, expressed grave concerns about the dwindling water supply in Tehran, Iran’s capital city. He warned that the city is on the brink of running out of water, a situation commonly referred to as “day zero” in the water sector.
With a population of over 90 million people, Iran is facing an unprecedented water and energy crisis. The country is experiencing its sixth consecutive year of drought, leading to critically low reservoir levels and posing risks to drinking water and power supplies. Approximately 10% of Iran’s dams are now virtually dry, exacerbating the water scarcity issue.
President Masoud Pezeshkian recently indicated the possibility of evacuating Tehran if rainfall does not occur by late November. The water crisis in Iran is not solely due to lack of rainfall but also stems from years of mismanagement, lack of foresight, and heavy reliance on groundwater resources, as highlighted by Madani. The country’s agricultural sector, which consumes a significant portion of freshwater, is plagued by inefficient practices and outdated irrigation methods, further straining water resources.
The country’s energy system heavily depends on hydropower and fossil fuels, but diminishing water sources have led to a decline in power output. The ongoing conflict with other countries has also exacerbated Iran’s environmental challenges. To address the crisis, experts emphasize the need for immediate rainfall and snowfall in critical regions. However, even if precipitation occurs, the extensive depletion of groundwater resources will require decades for recovery.
Despite calls for reform and awareness of the water crisis, significant policy changes are unlikely in the near future. Short-term solutions, such as rationing water and implementing conservation measures, are being considered to alleviate the immediate impact. Moving forward, a shift towards a resilience-based approach in water management is essential to ensure sustainable water allocation. However, the road to policy reform may be hindered by the preference for technological solutions over costly policy changes.