Tehran’s dams at 19% as Iran water crisis worsens: What to know
The water levels in dams across Iran are falling amid hot temperatures, as the government pleads with the public to cut consumption.
An Iranian official said on Wednesday that the water levels in Tehran’s dams are at 19%, in the latest warning related to the ongoing crisis in the country.
Spokesperson for Iran’s water industry Issa Bozorgzadeh added that half of the water in the dams is not suitable for drinking. A day earlier, he said that Tehran residents had cut water consumption by 13% recently and that there would be sufficient water come the fall if usage falls another 12%, according to Iranian media reports.
Why it matters: Iran’s water crisis is worsening, according to recent indicators. President Masoud Pezeshkian told reporters on Sunday that Tehran and other parts of the country are facing “serious” water issues, saying efforts were underway to transfer water from the Taleqan Dam in the north to the capital.
Iran’s Water Resources Management Company said on Sunday that dam reservoirs nationwide are filled to only 42% of their capacity.
