The latest figures on precipitation have diminished the authorities' hopes of at least a little improvement in the country's water situation and alleviation of the growing drought.
Iran has been struggling with water shortage for years, as it is located in a semi-arid region.
Some experts have attributed the water crisis to climate change, while others believe it is caused by the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the air.
Casting an analytical look at rainfall data, even laymen can say drought is more than a serious issue in the country.
Data from Iran Water Resources Management Company, a subsidiary of the Energy Ministry, shows that since the beginning of the current water year (Sept. 23, 2017), the country has received 90 millimeters of precipitation.
The figure indicates a drastic 40.4% fall compared to the same time last year which saw 150.9 mm of rain. The numbers include average precipitation of Iran's all six watersheds: The Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, Urmia Lake, Central Plateau, Eastern Border and Qarequm in the northeast.
Eastern Border was fed with 11.1 mm of rainfall during the mentioned period, which is the least amount among all the catchment areas. The figure shows a sharp 75.4% decrease in precipitation compared to the same period of the last water year with 45.2mm.
Central Plateau also registered a 58.5% decline in rainfall, dropping from 102.7 mm to 42.6 mm.
Rainfall in Qarequm fell from 116.4 mm to 64.2 mm, marking a 44.8% decrease during the current water year.
The Persian Gulf and Oman Sea watershed registered a less disappointing yet not so impressive record. Declining from 245.6 mm to 130.4 mm, the catchment area saw a 46.9% decrease in precipitation.
During the studied period, the Caspian has been the most water-fed catchment area, with 232.5 mm of rainfall.
Unlike most of other areas, the number shows a slight increase (5.3%) compared to the last year's 220.8 mm.
Additionally, Urmia Lake is the other watershed with a 37.5% rise in precipitation compared to the previous year with 162.8mm. Since the beginning of fall, the area has been fed with 223.8 mm of rainfall.
Serious Shortage Looming
According to Mohammad Haj-Rasouliha, an advisor to the energy minister, the released data shows that Iran will face a serious water shortage in the current water year (Sept. 23, 2017-Sept. 22, 2018).
"Rainfalls were worse than what we expected, such that the country has had the lowest rate of precipitation in the past 50 years until Feb. 19," he said.
Experts believe that continuous and above-normal levels of precipitation are needed over the coming months to compensate for the below-normal precipitation in the past months.
Although the authorities have long been pondering over the growing water problem throughout the country for decades, the expansion of industries and a population boom have outpaced the implementation of water management measures adopted so far.
This has led to desiccation of wetlands and rivers.
Experts have repeatedly warned that there is no chance of climatic amelioration and the only solution to the aggravating issue is to tactfully manage the available resources by drawing on both modern sciences and indigenous methods, in addition to optimizing water consumption.
Over thousands of years, Iranians have learned to adapt themselves to water shortage and used innovative techniques to manage resources. The ancient structures such as qanats and rainwater collection ponds indicate that the issue has existed in the country for ages.
Need for Change
However, according to the data from the Energy Ministry, every Iranian uses an average of 250 liters of water per day, while per capita water consumption in metropolises such as Tehran exceeds 400 liters. The global average is around 150 liters.
Regarding the spring-cleaning ritual—which is common among Iranian households in early spring—and worsening water scarcity gripping the country, numerous society-based campaigns, including 'Daryabim' and Spring Cleaning campaigns, have emerged in an effort to raise public awareness and prevent injudicious water consumption,especially during the ritual.
Campaigner Majid Rahmani maintained that using drinking water for house-cleaning purposes is absolutely irrational, especially in a water-stressed country like Iran.
"People can do a lot to save water if they repair faulty water tabs in their houses, let carpet cleaning centers to wash theirrugs and use less chemical cleaners to avoid polluting the environment," ISNA quoted him as saying.
Authorities repeatedly emphasize the necessity of modifyingwater consumption patterns, which seriously affect water supply in the sprawling country amid persistent drought.
Despite not-so-effective compensatory schemes put in placeso far, the water problem is still a menace, strong enough to threaten the livelihood of a wide number of people.
