{"id":339180,"date":"2025-11-10T17:39:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T16:39:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=339180"},"modified":"2025-11-10T17:39:24","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T16:39:24","slug":"iran-water-crisis-deepens-as-19-dams-near-depletion-mashhad-reservoirs-below-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/society\/iran-water-crisis-deepens-as-19-dams-near-depletion-mashhad-reservoirs-below-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran Water Crisis Deepens As 19 Dams Near Depletion; Mashhad Reservoirs Below 3%"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Residents
Residents of Shahr-e Kord, western Iran, rally with handwritten signs and chants demanding drinking water solutions and accountability from local officials, August 16, 2022<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Two-minute read<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Iran is facing an escalating water emergency as dam levels sink to historic lows across multiple basins and officials warn of pressure cuts and potential rationing in major cities. State reports say 19 dams are on the verge of complete depletion, while more than 20 dams are holding under five percent of their capacity. At the start of Aban (October 23 on Iranian calendar), only eight dams were in such critical condition; within less than two weeks, the number more than doubled, underscoring the rapid deterioration.<\/p>\n

In Tehran, the managing director<\/a> of the city\u2019s Water and Wastewater Company claimed the capital is experiencing five consecutive years of drought for the first time in recent decades and that stored water in the five main reservoirs has fallen to a historic minimum. He confirmed nighttime pressure reductions as part of demand management and advised households facing low pressure to consider storage tanks and booster pumps.<\/p>\n

In Mashhad, the head of the local water utility said the reservoirs that supply the metropolis have dropped to below three percent<\/a>. He cited sharply reduced rainfall\u2014about 0.4 millimeters so far this season, compared with 27\u201328 millimeters at the same point last year and a long-term average of ~14 millimeters\u2014as evidence of the severity of the deficit. Current demand is around 8,000 liters per second, he added, of which only 1,000\u20131,500 l\/s is being met from dams. Local authorities have asked residents to cut consumption by about 20% to help avoid rationing, which remains under review if dry conditions persist.<\/p>\n

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Why #Iran<\/a> Is Running Out of Water, Power \u2014 and Patiencehttps:\/\/t.co\/9ZghlJCNpO<\/a><\/p>\n

— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) August 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n