Surface Water Declines by 7%

The amount of surface water in Iran decreased by 7% in the last water year (ended Sept. 22, 2017) compared with the previous year.

According to the latest report of Energy Ministry, the amount of surface water in the last water year was estimated at 54.7 billion cubic meters, which marks a 7% decline compared to the previous year with 59.1 bcm.

Among the country’s six primary catchment areas, Urmia Lake in the northeast registered the biggest decline in surface water, IRNA reported.

With the current volume at 3.8 bcm, water in Urmia Lake’s catchment area has seen a 38% decline during the last water year compared to the year before when it held about 4.9 bcm.

Karakum in the northeast with 28%, the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman in the south with 9% and the Caspian Sea in the north with 5%, have had the highest declines in surface water volume during the same period.

On the contrary, surface water in the Central Plateau in Markazi Province and Hamoun Wetlands in the east have increased by 18% and 9% respectively.

Reportedly, the total precipitation rate was 230 mm, declining by 5% in the last water year, which is down from 241 mm in the year before.

The global average annual precipitation is more than 830 mm, based on which Iran Is classified as an arid and semi-arid country.