SAEDNEWS: Tehran Regional Water Company CEO Warns: Amir Kabir Dam’s 14 Million Cubic Meters of Reserves Can Supply the Capital’s Drinking Water for Less Than Two Weeks as Inflows Drop by 43%
According to Saed News’ political desk, Ettelaat newspaper reports:
Forty-seven days into the new water year, Iran’s most populous cities have yet to see rainfall, and an unprecedented drought now threatens daily life.
The severity of the current drought is unparalleled in the past 57 years, and most of Iran’s surface water reserves have been depleted. Groundwater aquifers are also at risk of complete drying due to over-extraction, with 70% of the country now facing a water crisis.
The national meteorological organization has forecasted stable weather across most regions for the next two weeks, meaning continued dry skies and worsening water scarcity in major cities. Lower temperatures in the coming days could further increase air pollution in industrial areas, intensifying the environmental crisis.
According to the latest Ministry of Energy report, only 33% of Iran’s dam reservoirs are currently filled, and water levels in at least 11 major dams have reached their lowest points. Several others are expected to dry completely within two weeks.
Six consecutive drought periods have reduced Iran’s average rainfall to the lowest level in 57 years, while excessive water consumption in cities has set the stage for the most severe environmental crisis of the past century. The president recently admitted that evacuating Tehran may soon become necessary.
The report adds that only 17.21 billion cubic meters of water remain in dams—down 25% from 22.92 billion cubic meters at the same time last year. This means over two-thirds of the country’s dam capacity is empty.
Inflows to dams over the past 47 days have totaled just 1.35 billion cubic meters, a 39% decrease compared to 2.19 billion cubic meters last year. Outflows have also fallen 26% to 2.79 billion cubic meters, highlighting insufficient water supplies for agriculture, industry, and domestic use.
Statistics show that 28 out of 31 provinces face critically low rainfall. Twenty provinces have seen virtually no precipitation, while the remaining eight have received only minimal rainfall, insufficient to replenish water reserves. Even typically wet northern coastal regions have experienced significant reductions in rainfall this year.
According to Iran’s Water Resources Management Company, average rainfall since the start of the new water year (October 1) has been just 3.4 mm, compared to a long-term average of 14.8 mm and 14.5 mm during the same period last year.
Official reports and satellite imagery indicate that major dams in Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Kerman, Razavi Khorasan, and Zanjan are approaching “dead storage,” where water levels are too low for natural flow or operational use.
Last week, Iran experienced its driest autumn in 57 years. This dire situation is expected to persist for at least two more weeks, further complicating resource management.
Drought Hits Iran’s Largest Population Centers
In Tehran and Alborz provinces, home to over a quarter of Iran’s population, water supply is critically low. Mohsen Ardakani, CEO of Tehran Water and Wastewater Company, warned that local water resources have reached red alert levels, with dam reserves at their lowest in 60 years.
He stated that no rainfall has been recorded in Tehran since the start of the water year, compared to 20 mm last year and a long-term average of 30 mm. Ardakani emphasized that while authorities have tried to avoid a full-blown crisis, the current trajectory is alarming.
Efforts include maximizing capacity on the secondary water transfer line from Taleqan Dam, providing 5 cubic meters per second, in addition to 16 cubic meters per second from groundwater. Yet Tehran’s demand is 40 cubic meters per second, leaving a worrying 4–5 cubic meters per second shortfall. Plans for additional water transfers from Lar Dam are underway, but these measures provide only temporary relief.
Authorities are urging citizens to further reduce water consumption by 10% on top of the previous 25% reduction to navigate the dry autumn.
Razavi Khorasan on the Brink of Complete Drying
Mohammad Ali Ne’mat Nejad, CEO of Razavi Khorasan Water Company, reported a 99.7% drop in rainfall since October, leaving the province with an essentially rainless autumn. Dams in the province currently hold only 5% of their capacity, while groundwater resources are also critically low.
Autumn Crop Ban in Isfahan
In Isfahan, government reports indicate that water resources are on the verge of total depletion, prompting a ban on autumn crop cultivation. Over 90% of the province’s dam capacity is empty, and rainfall in central and eastern areas has decreased by nearly 100% compared to last year.
