The managing director of Iran Water Resources Management said Friday 109 dams are under construction across the country, 43 of which will provide water for household purposes and are expected to be completed by 2023 according to the Sixth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2017-22),
Speaking on the sidelines of the 14th International Water and Wastewater Exhibition in Tehran, Mohammad Haj-Rasouliha said the 43 projects need over $1 billion, ISNA reported.
According to the official, the rest of the dams will provide water for industry and irrigation purposes. “No new dam project has been initiated during the past seven years,” noted Haj-Rasouliha and added the dams that provide water for household purposes are of higher importance and the government is committed to complete them on the first place.
The senior official did not provide details and it was not clear why there is a need for so many new dams when there is not sufficient water or rainfall to store.
Iran has 172 dams but due to years of drought and steep decline in rainfall, the water now in dams is estimated at around 19.8 billion cubic meters or 40% of overall capacity and 19% less than last year.
Precipitation in the last water year (Sept. 23, 2017-Sept. 22, 2018) decreased by 21% compared to last year and as a result the volume of water inflow into dams declined by 31%.
Iran is facing the worst drought in half a century and large parts of the country will soon face severe water deficits as the water crisis worsens.
Expansion of industries, population growth, mismanagement, waste…have far outpaced the amount of rainfall and the development of water technologies, leading to desiccation of wetlands and rivers.
A total of 244 domestic and foreign companies, including 216 domestic companies and 28 firms from Austria, Italy, China, Germany, the UK, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, the US, Turkey and France attended this year’s International Water and Wastewater Exhibition that concluded Saturday.
