Water Crisis in Iran's Second City Amid Drought Conditions

Water levels in the dam reservoirs supplying Iran's second-largest city, Mashhad, have fallen below 3%, as reported by the ISNA news agency. Hossein Esmaeilian, the chief executive of Mashhad's water company, stated that this alarming situation necessitates urgent management of water use.

The city, which is home to approximately 4 million people, relies on four major dams for its water supply. Current consumption rates have reached around 8,000 liters per second, with only 1,000 to 1,500 liters per second coming from the dams.

Authorities in Tehran have warned of potential rolling water cuts in the capital, citing the worst drought conditions the country has faced in decades. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has indicated that without significant rainfall before winter, even Tehran could experience forced evacuations.

The critical status of water supplies is echoed by reports indicating that five major dams in Tehran are at dangerously low levels, with one completely empty and another below 8% capacity. To mitigate the crisis, officials suggest a 20% reduction in water consumption might help avoid rationing or severe cuts.

However, those who consume the most water may face supply cuts first. Nationwide, 19 major dams, representing about 10% of Iran's reservoir capacity, are effectively dry. This crisis follows months of drought across the country; during the summer, public holidays were declared in Tehran to conserve water and energy amid widespread power outages during a heatwave.

Local newspapers have criticized the politicization of environmental decision-making, suggesting that unqualified managers have exacerbated the crisis. The reformist Etemad newspaper stated that climate issues are being sacrificed for political purposes, while Shargh echoed this sentiment regarding the management of critical resources.