Tehran: A heat wave and water shortages are severely impacting public life in Iran, with authorities attributing the situation to an extreme drought. Climate experts, however, have indicated that their warnings have been disregarded for years. The government has ordered the closure of numerous government offices and public institutions in 16 out of Iran's 31 provinces, including Tehran, to reduce power consumption as the heat wave continues.
According to Deutsche Welle, the extreme weather is projected to persist for at least five more days across many regions, with temperatures expected to rise to 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) in some areas. Tehran, a city with a population exceeding 9 million, is particularly vulnerable as it cannot easily switch to alternative water sources during shortages. Water scarcity has been a long-standing issue for the city administration, dating back to at least 1969.
The capital's drinking water resources are strained due to building code violations, resource mismanagement, and over-consumption, which were initially suited for a smaller population. Experts have been cautioning for decades that Iran lacks adequate resources to sustain its growing population, agricultural demands, and high industrial and household water consumption. Environmental expert Mansour Sohrabi noted that nature has borne the consequences of these policies, leading to water shortages, heat waves, and environmental degradation.
In recent weeks, water supplies have been cut off for up to 48 hours in several cities, and electricity shortages have been exacerbated by the increased use of air conditioning. With temperatures soaring, power outages lasting hours have become common, severely affecting daily life.
Frustrated experts, such as climate researcher Karami, have been warning Iranian authorities about these issues for 30 years, predicting that unchecked urban development would lead to the current crisis. However, the government's response has been inadequate, with no concrete plans announced to tackle the crisis. Sheena Ansari, head of an environmental protection organization in Iran, warned that the current measures are insufficient to address the crisis.
Recent statements from climate experts indicate that 80% of Iran's reservoirs are nearly depleted, and normal water supplies may not be restored for at least two months until seasonal rainfall provides some relief. Experts like Mohammad Darvish have proposed solutions, such as channeling surface water into underground layers to create sustainable water sources, but such measures have not been widely implemented.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian recently warned against excessive water consumption, cautioning that Tehran could face severe water shortages by September if consumption is not controlled. The country is grappling with recurring shortages of electricity, gas, and water during peak demand months, exacerbated by over-consumption. Pezeshkian stressed the importance of managing consumption to avoid depleting water reserves in the coming months.