7.9% Decrease in Water Reserves of Iran's Dams

Iran's Labor News Agency, ILNA, has reported that the volume of water reserves in the country's dams has decreased by 7.9% at the end of October compared to the same time last year. This report, published on Wednesday, November 6, states that the water reserves in the country's dams were recorded at 17 billion and 860 million cubic meters at the end of October, while last year at the same time, the volume of water in Iran's dams was estimated to be around 19 billion and 400 million cubic meters. Iran is experiencing a severe drought, to the extent that many wetlands and lakes are on the verge of extinction, including Lake Urmia and Lake Bakhtagan, which has dried up. Meanwhile, according to statistics provided by ILNA, only 36% of the capacity of Iran's dam reservoirs is filled with water, and the output from the dams has also decreased by 7.1% compared to the same period last year. Among the dams in Iran that have seen a significant decrease in water reserves is the Karkheh Dam, which is considered the largest earthen dam in Iran and the Middle East. Statistics released in June of this year showed that the water reserves of this dam had dropped from five billion cubic meters to one billion cubic meters. Previously, the head of Iran's Environmental Protection Organization stated that forecasts indicate that by 2050, drought and reduced precipitation in Iran will be 11 times worse than current conditions. In this context, Iran's Minister of Energy announced the halt of construction on some dams in the country. Ultimately, the bill for the protection, restoration, and management of the country's wetlands in Khuzestan; water scarcity on the oil table; '85% of Iran's water resources have been used'; 520 cities in Iran are at a critical point of water inventory and consumption.