About $7 million have been invested for the construction of Balakhanlou Dam in Buin-Zahra City, Qazvin Province, and it is expected to be completed by 2023, the energy minister said.
“The dam will have a capacity of 38.5 million cubic meters and is built on the Haji Arab River to supply drinking water to five cities and 30 villages in the province,” Ali Akbar Mehrabian was also quoted as saying by the Energy Ministry’s news portal Paven.
The project, which has registered about 70% progress, is also to irrigate the plains to prevent the reduction in the level of groundwater and 4,200 hectares of farmlands, decrease groundwater extraction and control seasonal floods in Haji Arab River.
“The average rainfall in Qazvin Province is 316 mm, but since the beginning of the current water year [started September 2021], the amount of precipitation has been about 220 mm, which indicate a 12% decrease in rainfall compared to normal conditions in Qazvin,” he said.
“The amount of annual water consumption in the province is 2 billion cubic meters, of which 500 million cubic meters are supplied from surface water sources and one and a half billion cubic meters from groundwater resources.”
Mehrabian noted that about 88% of the water in the province are consumed in the agriculture sector, 8% in the household sector and 4% in industries and services.
Some industries in the province are currently using treated wastewater, as close to 58,000 cubic meters of effluents are reclaimed in the province annually.
The construction of Babakhanlou Dam seeks to supply drinking water in the region, irrigate 4,200 hectares of farmlands, decrease groundwater extraction and control seasonal floods in Haji Arab River
“There are 5,800 authorized wells in the province. The installation of smart meters has helped improve the level of groundwater aquifers and prevent their decline by controlling extraction from the wells and creating balance in groundwater resources. Sealing illegal wells has been another measure to prevent overextraction,” the minister said.
Government-affiliated Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission Company (Tavanir) has been installing smart electricity meters in the agriculture sector across Iran since 2018.
Of the total 200,000 agro wells in Iran, close to 131,000 [65%] are equipped with smart meters and their water extraction and power consumption can be monitored online.
Thanks to the new gadgets, consumers are informed about daily use and adjust consumption. Utilities in many developed and developing countries are promoting such meters for economic and environmental reasons, especially to reduce cost and consumption, he added.
Smart wells have sensors and valves installed downhole to allow easy and systematic monitoring.
The injudicious use and waste of groundwater from legal and illegal wells have emerged as a major problem in Iran's struggle against the water crisis that has gotten worse over the past half century as precipitation declines and consumption rises.
Excessive water extraction from groundwater resources may lead to land subsidence among other problems.
Land subsidence caused by the decline in the level of groundwater resources has been a growing phenomenon in Qazvin and is expected to cause irreparable damage to the environment if it is not addressed in time.
To tackle the issue, a series of short- and long-term measures have been implemented by the province's executive authorities. They have mechanized agricultural practices and boosted wastewater recycling. As the problem has evolved over a long period, it cannot be addressed overnight.
Commenting on other important water projects of the province, he said, “One of these projects is the construction of Nohab Dam, which we hope to complete by the end of the year.”
Located in Takestan County, the dam has the capacity of 120 million cubic meters that will be used to irrigate farmlands and plains, and help prevent floods.
Regarding the water supply project to Abyek City from Taleqan Dam, he said that it has registered good progress and is near completion and hoped that it will be become operational by summer.
Also pointing to the water supply project to 14 cities and 194 villages of the province from Taleqan Dam, the minister said, “The project costs $115 million. Good negotiations have been held with the private sector, banks and investors, and soon the required funds will be allocated to the project.”
