Tehran Faces Imminent Water Shortages Amid Drought and Mismanagement

As Tehran grapples with extreme heat and dwindling water supplies, the government warns that essential reservoirs could dry up within weeks, prompting urgent calls for conservation amid ongoing struggles with energy shortages.

Tehran is approaching a severe water crisis that could leave the capital without sufficient supplies in mere weeks, following five years of drought combined with decades of mismanagement. The Amir Kabir dam, a primary water source for Tehran, is currently at historical low levels.

Iran’s water resources are vanishing, with many of the nation’s lakes and reservoirs shrinking drastically to the point of resembling shallow ponds. Citizens report intermittent water access in their apartments as taps occasionally run dry for hours, forcing them to hoard and search for any available water source.

This escalating crisis comes against a backdrop of extreme temperatures, with portions of Iran recently recording a heat index of 149 degrees Fahrenheit, marking it as one of the hottest locations globally. Coupled with a months-long energy crisis resulting in regular power cuts, Iranians are facing unprecedented challenges.

Government officials are sounding alarms over the alarming rate at which water sources are depleting, with President Masoud Pezeshkian at a cabinet meeting stating, “The water crisis is more serious than what is being talked about today, and if we do not make urgent decisions today, we will face a situation in the future that cannot be cured.” Urgent measures are compulsory to avert a complete collapse of water availability in the coming weeks.