According to state media, there is a risk that the main source of drinking water in the capital Tehran could completely dry up within two weeks.
Behzad Parasa, the director of a company that supplies water to Tehran, stated that the main source, the Karaj Dam, now has only 14 million cubic meters of water left. A year ago, there were 86 million cubic meters of water here. Director Parasa has warned that the remaining water can only meet the capital Tehran’s demand for two more weeks.
Tehran has been suffering from a long-term drought, which is why it is facing its worst water crisis in decades. According to a local official, the level of rainfall in October was the lowest in a century. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) has stated, ‘If there is no rain in the coming months, Tehran will face a serious challenge in its drinking water supply.’
Due to five consecutive years of drought and record-breaking heat, the underground water tables (wells) in Tehran have begun to dry up. As the water levels in the reservoirs of power plants have also reached their lowest levels in history, load-shedding has now become common in Iran.
Drying Dams and the Capital’s Water Supply
The drinking water supply for the capital Tehran, with a population of about one crore (10 million), primarily depends on five major dams.
However, it has been reported that the Lar Dam has almost dried up. It is currently operating at just one percent of its total capacity.
Considering the crisis, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged the public to reduce their electricity consumption by at least 20 percent.
According to government statistics, electricity demand has decreased by 13 percent compared to last year. To save electricity, government buildings and some public offices have started to be closed regularly, which has begun to affect economic and commercial activities.
Power Crisis and Blackouts
The water shortage is also escalating an energy crisis in Iran. As the dams dry up, electricity production is being halted. Gas plants are struggling to meet the increasing demand for air conditioners and water pumps.
According to IRNA, Iran’s official news agency, the demand for electricity reached 69,000 megawatts in July, but the supply capacity was only 62,000 megawatts. Now, daily power cuts of 2-4 hours have become normal there.
