Tehran Grapples with Fifth Year of Drought

Tehran has officially entered its fifth consecutive year of drought, prompting city authorities to strengthen coordination among key agencies to manage water resources and address the crisis.

According to the Tehran Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization, the first monitoring and control meeting for Tehran’s water resource management program was held to assess the capital’s current water situation and review actions taken so far, The Caspian Post reports, citing Iranian media.

Seyed Ali Sharifi, Deputy for Prevention and Risk Reduction at the organization, said Tehran is facing exceptional water scarcity conditions, stressing that overcoming this situation requires strong coordination and determination among all responsible institutions. “All agencies must fulfill their commitments and take practical measures to minimize the impacts of drought and ensure efficient water management,” he stated.

Sharifi added that the Tehran Crisis Management Organization, in cooperation with the Tehran Water and Wastewater Company, has developed an executive plan for water resource management. The plan, approved by the Tehran metropolitan crisis management headquarters, outlines monitoring, updating, and evaluating the performance of institutions based on defined roles and responsibilities.

He emphasized the need for continuous monitoring meetings and regular reporting by all related organizations. The Water and Wastewater Company will oversee coordination to prevent potential water stress in the city.

The key components of the management program include increasing the efficiency of water transmission and distribution networks, reducing leakage, managing reserves and demand, recharging groundwater resources, and promoting public awareness for responsible water consumption.

During the session, officials also discussed repairing and upgrading water infrastructure, establishing local treatment plants and water recycling systems, using treated wastewater for non-potable purposes, and curbing excessive groundwater extraction. Each institution’s responsibilities were outlined across short-, medium-, and long-term phases.