Iran is to implement groundwater detection in karst regions for the first time as a national scheme organized by Geological Survey and Mineral Explorations of Iran (GSI).
"The project primarily aims to detect and harness the ground water that flows out of the country's borders or empties into seas so as to supply freshwater for drought-stricken areas at the next stage, as an alternative to inter-basin water transfer," Masoud Morsali, an advisor at GSI, said.
Unlike the earlier similar projects, which were carried out via magnetometry and radiometry, the current scheme is being implemented utilizing the latest electromagnetic techniques with the help of airborne geophysics, IRNA reported.
Compared to former approaches, the new technique is faster and capable of monitoring deeper layers of the earth (up to 400 meters), Morsali noted.
Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks, which is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. In karst areas, rainwater quickly drains away into the ground, being accumulated in an underground system and flows into water bodies, unused.
Generally, such ground water systems form in two types of grounds: alluvial plains, abundantly found in Iran, and volcanic landforms.
According to Morsali, karst water sources are specifically used as drinking water supplements and not for industry.
Reportedly, 25% of the world population is currently using karst water sources for drinking.
Studies in Iran
Preliminary studies first started in Iran a couple of years ago, following the 21st session of the High Council for Water, showing that almost 11% of the country's areas potentially hold ground water reservoirs.
Based on the details provided by the Energy Ministry, Zagros and Alborz mountain ranges and Qarequm area in the northeast are the most potential regions.
"The water detection project will be first implemented in Hezar Masjed Mountains in Iran-Turkmenistan border area," said Hedayat Fahmi, the director for water resources planning department at the ministry.
Karst water systems, as the official said, are highly sensitive to pollution and climatic conditions.
"A buffer zone should be defined for the reserves to prevent the water from urban or industrial contamination," Fahmi said.
Additionally, the amount of water in karst systems and the resulting springs are directly affected by temperature.
"As we can see springs in Kermanshah Province dry up immediately with the rise in temperature," the official added.
Fahmi explained that in an ideal situation, karst water sources keep over 300 billion cubic meters of water. However, the amount falls to lower than half, when a long-term drought hits an area.
Nevertheless, the sources are accessible by 150 meters beneath the earth's surface, which is why extraction from karst sources is thought to be economical.
Digging Into Deepwater
Besides the feasible solutions to tackle the growing water problem, ultra-deep water extraction has been repeatedly proposed by authorities, but experts believe these sources should be reserved for when drought grows to the level of a disaster.
"Ultra-deep reserves are considered strategic sources of water and their tactless use is absolutely unwise," Fahmi said.
"The most viable solution to address water scarcity in the struggling provinces of Kerman, Isfahan, Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, Fars and Khorasan is to raise public awareness to prevent water wastage and modify water management strategies, besides finding a stable source of freshwater for everyday use."
Iran uses 90% of its renewable water resources, while the global average is 40%. Officials say the amount of water drawn from groundwater sources needs to drop from 55 billion cubic meters to 26.5 billion cubic meters per year to avoid a catastrophe. According to official data, ten provinces suffer from severe water shortage, while 23 provinces have experienced significant reduction in rainfall compared to previous years.
Iranian authorities are focusing on finding new sources of water inside or outside the country while many experts have stressed that more attention should be given to the management of existing resources.
