Iran Weighs Evacuation Plans as Water Crisis Deepens
Iran is facing its most severe water emergency in decades, with officials warning that evacuating parts of Tehran ? a city of about 10 million ? may become necessary if drought conditions persist.
President Masoud Pezeshkian declared in early November that extreme measures, including relocating residents, could be necessary if meaningful rainfall does not arrive until late November. The reservoirs that supply the capital are down to just 5% of reserve capacity, according to Mohsen Ardakani, head of the Tehran Province Water and Wastewater Company.
For many residents, the crisis is disrupting daily life. Erfan Ensani, 39, returned home from work last week to find his taps dry for the third straight day. Low water pressure left entire neighborhoods without running water.
“The water company says we should buy pumps to solve the problem and also get a storage tank to keep some water,” Ensani said. “But that’s expensive, especially now when the economy is bad.”
Tehran is in its sixth year of drought, and summer temperatures topping 50 degrees Celsius have triggered rolling power outages. Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi has warned that authorities may have to halt water supply entirely on some nights to conserve what remains.
Experts say the country is not merely suffering a crisis but a “water bankruptcy,” driven not only by drought but also by decades of mismanagement, inefficient agriculture, and heavy reliance on dams that have depleted rivers and aquifers.
“A crisis is a state that you can mitigate,” said Kaveh Madani, director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health. “But the damages we are seeing to the ecosystem, to nature, and even to many parts of the economy and infrastructure are irreversible.”
The shortages have already sparked student protests at several universities and intensified tensions in southwestern Khuzestan province, where water scarcity has previously led to clashes and arrests.
Evelyn Nam For The Teen Times teen/1764893129/1613367659
1. What specific steps are Iranian officials considering, such as evacuations or halting water supply, to address Tehran’s water crisis?
2. Where are residents most affected by the water shortage, and which neighborhoods have experienced multiple days without running water?
3. How have six years of drought and extreme summer temperatures impacted daily life and energy supply in Tehran?
4. What long-term environmental, economic, and infrastructure damages are experts warning could be irreversible if the crisis continues?
1. Who influences your habits regarding water use and environmental responsibility most in your life?
2. Why do you think managing water resources carefully is crucial for both people and ecosystems?
3. What lessons from Iran’s water crisis could you apply personally to prevent waste and promote sustainability?
4. Do you feel concerned when hearing about water shortages and their social impacts globally?
Iran is facing its most severe water emergency in decades, with officials warning that evacuating parts of Tehran ? a city of about 10 million ? may become necessary if drought conditions persist.
