Officials in a major Middle Eastern capital are contemplating drastic measures to manage severe drought-driven water shortages.
What’s going on?
The BBC reported that the Iranian capital of Tehran is on the brink of running out of water. The lack of rain has caused the dams that supply the city to drop to less than 10% of capacity. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that rationing and other extreme options are on the table if the rain doesn’t come: “If rationing doesn’t work, we may have to evacuate.”
Unfortunately, there is no end to the drought in sight, and the country has begun controversial cloud seeding operations in a desperate attempt to induce rain. Iran’s Meteorological Organization reported an 89% drop in rainfall compared to last year, the worst drought in fifty years.
Why is Iran facing a severe water shortage?
Iran’s water problems are not particularly new. The World Resources Institute ranks Iran as the 14th most water-stressed country in the world. It is one of 25 nations with “extremely high” groundwater stress.
Part of the issue is over-extraction of groundwater; 70% of Iran’s groundwater is considered over-extracted. Iran has doubled its cultivated lands since the revolution as it sought self-sufficiency. However, the nation’s infrastructure has not been adequately upgraded to meet that increased demand and production. This is causing Tehran to sink by about 30 centimeters a year, and other misguided ventures are hardly helping.
In addition, pollution that traps the heat of dirty energy makes extreme weather events such as droughts longer and more severe. A warmer atmosphere makes rainfall more erratic and causes dry areas to become even drier. The situation is further complicated by geopolitical tensions. Regional conflicts are damaging the already poor water infrastructure and limiting Iran’s diplomatic options.
What can be done about the drought?
The story highlights the importance of staying up-to-date on climate issues. As dire as the situation may seem, there are steps Iran can and should take to improve its water security.
Cloud seeding is unlikely to be the answer, but the pivot to more sustainable and less water-intensive agricultural practices could free up enough water to quench the thirst of Tehran and other major cities. As Al-Jazeera reported, agriculture accounts for more than 90% of the nation’s water use, and much of this is wasted. Even modest reductions in water used for agriculture provide short-term relief.
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