Lack of rainfall in the current water year (started Sept. 23) and seasonal forecasts indicate the continuation of mega-drought in South Khorasan Province, as it has entered the 23rd consecutive years, the director general of the provincial meteorology office said.
“According to statistics, 99.7% of the area of the eastern province have been gripped by drought,” Alireza Khandanrou was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
A mega-drought is a prolonged drought lasting two decades or longer.
“In the last water year (September 2021-22), rainfall decreased by 30.9 mm compared to the previous year, indicating a 27% decrease in the long-term average rainfall of the province,” he added.
Referring to climate change as an undeniable phenomenon, he said, “This has happened and there is no way to fight it, so we should adapt ourselves to the new conditions. The decline in precipitation is one of the effects of climate change.”
Khandanrou noted that the rise in dust storms, temperature and torrential rains are other consequences of climate change.
Referring to water issues in the province, Saeed Sarvari, managing director of South Khorasan Regional Water Company, noted that the reduction in the quantity and quality of groundwater resources is one of the effects of drought, and due to the prevalence of drought in the province, water shortage has become critical.
“Every year, about 905 million cubic meters of water are extracted from the province's groundwater resources, of which 88% are used in agriculture, 9% in households and 3% in industries and services,” he said.
“The dependence of more than 99.8% of water consumption in South Khorasan on groundwater resources and the increase in extraction beyond the capacity of aquifers have caused the plains of the province to get into a difficult situation and land subsidence is an imminent threat.”
Sarvari pointed out that there are eight dams in South Khorasan with a total capacity of 75 million cubic meters, but currently only 10 million cubic meters of water are stored in them, which is 15% of their total capacity.
Due to the absence of permanent rivers and lack of access to the sea, water in the border and desert province is supplied from groundwater sources, including wells, springs and aqueducts.
Wells account for 63% of the water supply, with 250 mcm from the qanat (underground aqueducts) and the rest from groundwater resources like rivers and dams, which are drying up due to its extensive use in different sectors.
According to the latest data, nearly 50% of the province’s villages are now deserted. Of the 3,500 villages, 1,600 are devoid of people.
Dwindling water resources and vanishing farmlands compel rural residents to migrate to cities in increasing numbers to find work.
Recurrent droughts have led to the desiccation of 15% of aqueducts and reduction of water levels in 30% of South Khorasan aqueducts.
The gradual loss of water resources has prompted people to take drastic measures, such as digging illegal wells and withdrawing excess water that have further exacerbated the water problem.
To help address water shortage in the province, plans are underway to supply water from the southeast region to South Khorasan Province.
Studies have been carried out on ways to transfer desalinated water from the Oman Sea to the provinces of Sistan-Baluchestan, South Khorasan and Khorasan Razavi.
