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Slight Increase in Water Storage

Slight Increase in Water Storage
Slight Increase in Water Storage

Average rainfall since the beginning of the current water year in September slightly increased water stored in dams. According to data from the Iran Water Management Company, dams now hold 26.7 billion cubic meters of water up 1% compared to the same time a year ago, ISNA reported.
There are 193 dams in Iran with total storage capacity of 50 bcm but now are approximately 52% full. However, levels in all dams are not the same. While 50 dams are over 90% full, 40 hold less than a third of their capacity.
Although precipitation data in different regions show increase compared to the long-term average, increase in river basins also differ. Close to 77 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in the 3-month period (Sept.22-Dec 22), down 11% compared to the same period last year. 
In addition to the decline in precipitation, water inflow shows 16% decrease year-on-year. An estimated 7.1 billion cubic meters of water has flowed into dams since September. In 2019 the volume was 8.3 bcm.
According to the Energy Ministry, 100 more dams are in different stages of construction. When completed, they should add 18 billion cubic meters to the water storage capacity.
Dams are scattered across all six main catchment areas. The highest number under construction (54) is in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman catchment areas in the south and 31 in the Caspian Sea catchment area in the north.
Other catchment areas namely the Central Plateau in the central region, Urmia Lake to the northwest, Hamoun Wetlands in the east and Karakum in the northeast will be home to 9, 3, 2 and 1 dams, respectively.

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