TEHRAN – The total volume of water stored behind Iranian dams is currently estimated at 22.41 billion cubic meters, showing a 25 percent decline compared to the previous year, Tasnim News Agency reported.

Based on the latest data released by the Energy Ministry, in the first 155 days of the current water year (September 23, 2023) up to February 24, 10.43 billion cubic meters of water entered the dam reservoirs of the country, indicating a decrease of 15 percent compared to the same period of the last water year when the water inflow was 12.2 billion cubic meters.

Iran’s total dam reservoirs currently stand at 50.5 billion cubic meters, according to the Energy Ministry data, of which only 45 percent is currently full.

Out of a total of 183 currently operational dams across Iran, 52 are related to the Caspian Sea catchment area, 12 are based in the Urmia basin, 68 dams are located in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman watersheds, 34 dams are in the Central Plateau, 11 dams are in Sarakhs catchment basin, and another six dams are located across the eastern boundary basin (Hamoun).

A recent report by Nature Scientific Journal on Iran’s water crisis indicates that from 2002 to 2015, over 74 billion cubic meters have been extracted from aquifers, which is unprecedented and its revival takes thousands of years along with urgent action.

Three Iranian scientists studied 30 basins in the country and realized that the rate of aquifer depletion over a 14-year period has been about 74 billion cubic meters, which is recently published in Nature Scientific Journal.

Also, over-harvesting in 77 percent of Iran has led to more land subsidence and soil salinity.

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