As Tehran’s dams are drying up, Iran’s capital of nearly 9 million people is going through one of its most severe water shortages in decades. Once fed by a network of five major dams, the city now stands on the edge of a humanitarian and environmental emergency.

Low rainfall, overuse, and the effect of climate change have pushed Tehran’s water reserves to historic lows, leaving officials and residents facing difficulty in protecting the most basic resource for survival.

The Scope of the Crisis

According to Iran’s Energy Ministry, the total storage of Tehran’s five main dams, such as Lar, Latyan, Mamloo, Taleqan, and Karaj, has decreased below 25% of total capacity, compared to around 45% this time last year. Officials caution that if the trend continues, many districts could experience rolling water cuts during the winter months.

According to Tehran Province Water and Wastewater Company data via media outlets, the reusable dam storage supplying Tehran province was at around 10 % of capacity, while rainfall was recorded at just 159 mm for the water year, described as the lowest in a century. This sharp reduction, coupled with accelerating average temperatures of 1.6 °C over the past two decades, has increased evaporation from reservoirs and decreased snowpack in the Alborz Mountains – a key source of water for Tehran.

Local reports emphasize that more than 270 cities nationwide now face “critical” water stress, including major urban centers such as Isfahan and Mashhad. The Energy Ministry has also confirmed that over 7,000 villages depend on water delivered by trucks due to depleted groundwater and failing pipelines.

As Tehran’s dams are drying up, residents have been urged to stop household water use by at least 20%, while authorities scramble to scale up long-delayed desalination and recycling projects. However, experts warn that such steps may only offer temporary relief without long-term reforms in water management and agriculture.

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Underlying Causes of the Crisis

Prolonged Drought and Rainfall Reduction

Six consecutive years of below-average rainfall have left Iran’s reservoirs severely depleted. The Energy Ministry notes that cumulative precipitation since 2019 has been 40% below normal levels, explaining why Tehran’s dams are drying up faster than ever before.

Over-Extraction and Mismanagement

For decades, Tehran has depended on unsustainable groundwater pumping to meet expanding demand. The absence of strict regulation has worsened the situation, making it easier for Tehran’s dams to dry up rather than recover during wet cycles.

Water-Intensive Agriculture

Agriculture gulps nearly 90% of Iran’s freshwater, yet much of it is lost through outdated irrigation systems. Poor planning has diverted water from critical catchments, directly contributing to how Tehran’s dams are drying up at alarming rates.

Climate Change and Heatwaves

Increasing temperatures have shortened Iran’s rainy season and melted snowpacks earlier than expected. The Iran Meteorological Organization reported that from the start of the current water year (September 23, 2024) to March 14, 2025, rainfall across the country fell by about 40.4 % compared to the long-term average.

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To Sum Up

The warning signs are impossible to ignore – Tehran’s dams are drying up, and with them, the security of millions of people too. Experts stressed that the crisis could soon spark social unrest and large-scale migration if not addressed immediately. Iran’s government has declared emergency conservation campaigns and promised investment in desalination plants and wastewater reuse, but the window for effective action is rapidly closing.

Without decisive steps toward sustainable water governance, modernization of irrigation, and international cooperation, the sight of Tehran’s dams drying up may soon become the new normal – a stark reminder of how climate, policy, and mismanagement can converge into a national emergency.

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