Water Shortage Taking Toll on Khuzestan Hydropower Plants

Karkheh hydroelectric power plant in Khuzestan Province has gone off the grid because of water shortage, the head of the power station said.
“Karkheh Dam in the southwestern province, which overflowed two years ago due to torrential and unprecedented rainfall, is now half empty and has difficulty supplying water not only for drinking but also for power generation,” Mohammad Reza Yazdanipour was also quoted as saying by ISNA.
“While the average level of water in the dam is 350 meters, the figure is now below 200 meters. Other hydroelectric power plants, including Karoun 1, Karoun 3, Karoun 4 and Masjed Soleyman, have already gone off the grid because of water scarcity,” he added.
The decline in precipitation in the previous water year (ended Sept. 22) has worsened the drought facing the country for years, which consequently caused water stress.
Iran is located in an arid and semi-arid region. Close to 210 urban and rural areas were on the verge of water tension in the summer.
The Energy Ministry’s data show that close to 30 million people are struggling with varying degrees of water scarcity and related challenges that have only deteriorated.
According to water authorities, potable water was supplied by tankers in the last two months.