Tehran's dams are drying up: a severe water crisis despite rainfall
Despite recent scattered rainfall that offered a glimmer of hope, the Iranian capital, Tehran, continues to face one of the most severe water crises in its modern history. Shocking local reports reveal that one of the city's main strategic reservoirs is nearly empty, foreshadowing a harsh summer and unprecedented environmental and livelihood challenges amid the worst drought to hit the country in decades.
Shocking figures: The Amir Kabir Dam is almost empty
Since the beginning of December, Tehran has experienced sporadic rainfall after months of drought, allowing for a partial and limited replenishment of some water reservoirs. However, overall water levels remain at critically low levels, sounding the alarm.
In detailing the alarming figures, the local Tasnim news agency highlighted a critical statistic concerning the vital Amir Kabir Dam. Out of a total storage capacity of 205 million cubic meters, only 6 million cubic meters of water currently remain behind the dam. The agency emphasized that these figures effectively mean that over 97% of the reservoir's capacity is completely empty, rendering it incapable of meeting the growing water needs of the capital.
Environmental and climatic context of the crisis
What is happening in Tehran cannot be separated from the broader context of climate change impacting the Middle East and West Asia. Iran, geographically classified as a country already suffering from water scarcity and a semi-arid climate, is facing a confluence of natural and human factors this year that have exacerbated the crisis. The continued rise in temperatures has led to increased evaporation rates of surface water in dams, making seasonal rains less effective in replenishing lost reserves.
In Tehran specifically, local officials described the previous rainfall level as “unprecedentedly low in almost a century,” a fact confirmed by the Tehran Municipality’s Hamshahri newspaper, which noted the impossibility of drawing additional quantities from the current reserves of the Amir Kabir Dam, thus putting the authorities in front of difficult choices.
Presidential warnings and potential repercussions
On an official level, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian did not conceal the seriousness of the situation, describing the country's water situation as "critical." In remarks broadcast on state television, he emphasized that "all 31 provinces are suffering from water supply problems," stressing that managing the water issue has become a vital and urgent matter of national security. He warned that failure to control it could lead to social and economic problems that would be difficult to resolve in the future.
Observers believe that the continuation of this crisis may lead to repercussions that go beyond just a shortage of drinking water, affecting the agriculture and hydroelectric power generation sectors, in addition to the geological risks represented by the phenomenon of “land subsidence” as a result of the depletion of groundwater, a phenomenon that Tehran and the plains of Iran are increasingly suffering from.
Dam shortages and austerity measures
The official news agency IRNA described the condition of the five main dams supplying the capital as "unsatisfactory" and worrying compared to previous years. Official data detailed the deficit as follows:
- Amir Kabir Dam: Deficit of 88%.
- Lar Dam: Deficit of 51%.
- Taleqan Dam: 48% deficit.
- Dam Mamlu and Ltyan: Deficit of 53%.
These figures were recorded in comparison to the same period last year, indicating a rapidly deteriorating water supply. In an attempt to address this situation, the government resorted to "forced rationing" policies, announcing last November the implementation of periodic water cuts during nighttime hours as a precautionary measure to preserve what remained of the strategic reserve.
