By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Iran is preparing for periodic water supply cuts to its 10-million-strong capital city, Tehran, due to the worst drought in a century. Officials have reported record-low rainfall, and reservoirs, including the critical Amir Kabir dam, are drying up. The government plans the cuts to conserve water, as several areas have already experienced overnight dry pipes, and the President has warned of a potential evacuation of Tehran if rainfall doesn’t occur by year-end. Furthermore, other cities, such as Isfahan and Mashhad, are also facing water shortages and considering similar measures.
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Iran to cut water to Tehran, weigh evacuations as it faces worst drought in decades. That’s the headline, and it paints a stark picture of a crisis unfolding right now. We’re talking about a megacity, Tehran, potentially facing a water supply so critical that drastic measures are on the table. It’s easy to feel the gravity of this situation – imagine the immense logistical challenge of simply providing enough water for millions of people, let alone considering the possibility of widespread evacuations.
Tehran’s water infrastructure is bad, really bad. Reports suggest that a significant percentage of the city’s water – over 40% – is lost due to leaks, general disrepair, and, frankly, poor management. Instead of tackling these fundamental issues, the focus seems to have been on diverting water from other areas, building more and more wells to tap into underground aquifers, effectively draining the city’s lifeblood. This was never a sustainable strategy, and the severe drought conditions are now making a bad situation significantly worse. It’s like trying to bail out a sinking ship with a teaspoon while a tsunami is coming.
Focusing on fixing the country’s issues, especially water infrastructure, seems like a basic necessity. But, sadly, it seems resources were diverted to other ambitions. It’s a frustrating situation to consider, especially when you think about the potential for Iran to be a flourishing, prosperous country. The irony is, of course, that those with power will likely have their water, which will leave the rest to suffer.
Half of Iran’s provinces haven’t seen any rainfall in months. Think about the implications of this for a moment. Where do you send 10 million people? Are there any other viable options? One can’t help but wonder if this is a problem that could have been foreseen and, more importantly, prevented. It’s hard not to imagine that more resources spent on building reservoirs and improving water management could have changed the outlook.
I think the future for major cities that don’t have water is bleak. Tehran could be one of the first major cities to fall, because without water, cities cannot survive. There have been many cases like Flint, Michigan, that we can look to for reference.
The underlying problems seem to run deep, with the country grappling with internal divisions, economic instability, and the impact of the 1979 revolution. The irony of Iran used to be on the cutting edge of water desalination in partnership with Israel in the 1970s is stunning. But, the internal problems are difficult to overcome. The religious clergy still have much influence, and the country has been on a decline since the 1950s when the Prime Minister was overthrown. The hope of a democratic Iran seems to be a distant memory. The idea of the country being the “South Korea or Japan of the Middle East” seems like a dream that may never come.
Overall, what’s happening in Iran now shows how fragile societies can be when they are faced with environmental pressures, mismanagement, and political instability. The severity of the drought and the measures being considered highlight the urgency of addressing these challenges, not just for Iran, but for many other regions facing similar threats in the years to come.