Close to 9 billion cubic meters of water have flowed into Khuzestan Province’s big dams since the beginning of the current water year (Sept. 2022), the head of R&D Department of the provincial water company said.
“The figure [9 bcm] indicates a 20% rise in volume compared with the corresponding period of last year,” Ali Shahbazi was also quoted as saying by ISNA.
The three large dams of the region, namely Maroun, Dez and Karoun, are respectively 85%, 75% and 70% full, he added, noting that the water level of dams will increase gradually as snow starts thawing in April.
“However, the case with Karkheh Dam is different and its water level is lower than that of last year by 11%,” he said.
Karkheh Dam is designed to irrigate 320,000 hectares and feed a 400-megawatt hydroelectric power plant.
The official said drinking water for 52% of Khuzestan’s population is supplied by Karkheh River, so the sustainable supply of drinking water is the top priority, followed by water supply for farming.
Unprecedented torrential rainfall in the past few days in several provinces, including Tehran, Alborz, Markazi, Isfahan, Fars, Hormozgan, Sistan-Baluchestan, Yazd and Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, has filled 50% of Iranian dams.
“The volume of water inflow into the dams of Hormozgan and Sistan-Baluchestan has been 70 million cubic meters and 120 mcm respectively over the last week,” he said.
Adverse Effects
Shahbazi said dams in Tehran and Khuzestan provinces are also filling up and measures have been taken to minimize the adverse effects of potential floods.
The official noted that since the beginning of the new water year, close to 29 bcm of water have entered Iranian dams, up 5% compared with the same period of a year ago.
Dams across Iran can hold a maximum of 50 bcm of water.
According to Shahbazi, the higher precipitation will curb water tension facing Iran for more than a decade.
Khuzestan is home to the largest oil and gas plants in Iran, along with steel companies.
However, Karoun and Maroun oil and gas companies, the National Iranian Drilling Company, Maroun and Razi petrochemical companies and Khuzestan Steel Company have failed to fulfill their social responsibilities.
In addition to the severe water crisis, the southwestern province has to bear the brunt of dust storms that have increased in both frequency and intensity in recent years.
While a majority of dust and sand storms originate beyond Iran’s borders, such as Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia, domestic sources of the storms are contributing to the grave problems due to a variety of factors, most of which are manmade.
Local residents believe that Iran’s Department of Environment does nothing of substance, as it lacks the political will and financial ability.
