(fyiteam)
Authorities in Tehran warned that over the weekend (15–16 November) there may be temporary disruptions to the water supply in Iran’s capital, as residents face what officials describe as the worst drought in decades.
(fyiteam)
The city’s five main water reservoirs are at “critical” levels, with one reportedly empty and another at just 8% of its capacity.
The national water company has urged residents to reduce water consumption by 20%. Otherwise, water distribution may be subject to rationing, and officials have not ruled out broader supply interruptions.
(fyiteam)
A month ago, President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that the government may be forced to relocate the capital from Tehran (in the north) to the southern part of the country due to the prolonged drought.
Previous presidents had also raised the issue, including Hassan Rouhani, who had prepared a detailed relocation plan.
The main argument is that Tehran has developed into a mega-city of more than 10 million residents and consumes nearly one-quarter of Iran’s water resources.
(fyiteam)
At the national level, 19 major reservoirs — representing roughly 10% of the country’s storage capacity — have effectively dried up.
The situation appears even more severe in Mashhad, where water reserves in Iran’s third-largest city (around 4 million residents) have fallen to 3%.
Last year, rainfall declined by approximately 50–60%, and forecasts for this year suggest conditions may deteriorate further.
(fyiteam)
As surface reservoirs have dried up, authorities have increasingly relied on groundwater extraction.
This has led to land subsidence in several parts of the country.
In Isfahan (Iran’s second-largest city), three sinkholes measuring between 7 and 15 meters reportedly opened in city streets within a single week, prompting the evacuation of 40 schools.
During the summer, Tehran authorities imposed mandatory public holidays in an effort to reduce water consumption.
A proposal is also under consideration to suspend construction activity in the city for two years.
As voluntary conservation measures appear to have had limited impact, authorities have warned that households with the highest recorded consumption could face temporary supply cutoffs.
