Azadi Dam in western Kermanshah Province overflowed following heavy rainfall in past few weeks, managing director of Kermanshah Regional Water Company said.
"The dam, located in Dalahou County, 90km from Kermanshah with the capacity to hold 70 million cubic meters, overflowed late on Tuesday," Morovat Qobadi was quoted as saying by IRNA on Wednesday.
No damage has been reported to residents and property near the dam.
A number of other dams in the region including Zagros Dam will also overflow in the coming days if the deluge continues, he said.
"Eight dams are under construction in the province which can hold an estimated 1.1 billion cubic meters of water," he said. Close to 74% of dams under construction are also full and could be harmful if their water levels rise to dangerous levels.
Qobadi noted that the province's average precipitation in the current water year (started Sept. 23) has exceeded 180 millimeters, indicating a 220% increase compared to last year. In 2017 average precipitation amounted to 192 millimeters -- 40 millimeters more compared to 2016.
According to data from the Iran Water Resources Management Company, much-needed rainfall has amounted to 75 millimeters since September 23. During the same period last year it was 10 mm.
In the first 45 days of the present water year, the amount of rainfall reported was 22 billion cubic meters. In the same period last year, some of the basins, including the Persian Gulf Basin, did not see any rainfall.
Most provinces, especially in the western regions, namely Kermanshah, have reported above average rain since the beginning of the new water year.
According to the Iran Meteorological Organization, higher precipitation is expected following years of drought and dry spell that is forcing increasingly large numbers of people in small towns and rural areas to abandon their dwelling places in search of work and livelihood.
Iran has been grappling with water shortage for decades , especially in the central plateau. Years of drought and steep decline in rainfall have contributed to the rapidly deteriorating water conditions as supply fails to meet growing demand.
Moreover, the strategic agro sector seems oblivious to the fact that their dilapidated water-intensive farming methods are one big problem making the water crisis worse.
