Day Zero Is Coming: Tehran Could Run Out Of Water By September
Iran's capital is just weeks away from a catastrophic water shortage amid record heat, drought and years of mismanagement.
Iran's capital Tehran, home to nearly 10 million people, is teetering on the edge of a catastrophic water collapse, experts warned. The city may be just weeks away from 'day zero"- the point when large parts of the city will run completely out of water. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said, 'If we do not make urgent decisions today, we will face a situation in the future that cannot be solved."
Kaveh Madani, director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, said, 'We are talking about a possible day zero within weeks… this is new to Tehran." Key reservoirs around the capital have dwindled to just 21% of their capacity, according to Iran's regional water authority. Meanwhile, the country has entered its fifth consecutive year of drought and is enduring record-breaking temperatures. Some areas have seen highs exceeding 122°F (50°C), according to climatologist Maximiliano Herrera.
To slow water consumption, authorities have already reduced water pressure across Tehran, affecting around 80% of households, provincial governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian said. For residents in high-rise apartments, this has meant no running water at all.
Tankers have begun delivering water to parts of the capital. Those who can afford it are rushing to install private storage tanks. In a desperate bid to reduce consumption, the government declared a one-day public holiday last week and officials are now considering a week-long closure of Tehran's public institutions in the hope that many will leave the city and lessen demand.
Sinking Into Water Bankruptcy
Experts have said that the country is experiencing 'water bankruptcy." Amir AghaKouchak, a professor at the University of California, called the situation a 'systemic, long-term imbalance" caused by excessive groundwater pumping, inefficient farming practices and unchecked urban expansion. He said, 'Iran's water crisis cannot be separated from its broader governance crisis. It is deeply political and systemic."
Iran's Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi confirmed that 30 out of 31 provinces are now experiencing water stress. He said, 'If Tehran survives until the end of September then there is hope for avoiding day zero."
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