85 Percent of Iran's Water Resources Have Been Used

The head of Iran's Environmental Protection Organization has warned that excessive exploitation of environmental capacities has led to 85 percent of Iran's water resources being utilized. Just a day before these remarks, a senior official from the same organization stated that in the capital alone, due to reckless water extraction, land subsidence has reached '90 times critical conditions.' Prior to that, Youssef Hojjat, senior advisor to the Environmental Protection Organization, warned that with the current situation and ongoing drought, Iran could turn into a desert within the next 15 years. Masoumeh Ebtekar, head of the Environmental Protection Organization, stated on October 15 in Mashhad that the water crisis 'is of great importance for the future of Iranian civilization.' According to Ebtekar, Iran ranks first in the world for groundwater extraction, followed by Egypt, which extracts 25 percent less than Iran from its groundwater resources. Mohammad Darvish, director of education and public participation at the Environmental Protection Organization, mentioned in Kashan that nearly 27 billion cubic meters of water are consumed annually in the agricultural sector; however, due to improper packaging, food products 'do not actually reach the consumer.' Darvish noted that agricultural waste in Iran is six times higher than global standards. Groundwater is vital for humanity; its extraction is cheaper and easier. Academic research in the United States shows that groundwater constitutes 20 to 30 percent of the world's total drinking water, which is less than one percent of the world's total water. Humanity extensively utilizes groundwater for drinking. According to IRNA, Masoumeh Ebtekar stated that everyone is responsible for the ongoing crisis and must strive to protect water resources. Ebtekar, without providing details, mentioned that the Iranian government has 'paid good attention' to environmental issues. Excessive water exploitation and consumption, as well as drought and other common problems, have led Iranian officials to repeatedly warn about the conditions in recent months.