Tehran has allocated 53 municipal water wells to Iran’s Energy Ministry in a move aimed at strengthening the capital’s drinking water resources, according to senior government officials.
The decision comes as the city prepares for a major expansion in the use of treated wastewater to irrigate urban green spaces.
Mohammad Javan-Bakht, the energy minister’s adviser for water and wastewater affairs, confirmed that the wells—previously managed by Tehran Municipality—have now been formally transferred to the ministry. He said the shift will help support the capital’s water security amid growing pressure on potable water supplies, IRNA reported.
According to Javan-Bakht, Tehran Municipality plans a rapid increase in the use of treated wastewater for irrigation across the city. Current annual consumption of recycled water stands at 23 million cubic meters, but this figure is expected to jump to 56 million cubic meters in the coming months.
If wastewater collection from all treatment plants is completed, usage could eventually reach 200 million cubic meters per year, significantly reducing the city’s reliance on drinking-water resources for landscape irrigation.
The announcement comes as national officials highlight broader concerns about dwindling water reserves—particularly in agriculture.
Majid Anjafi, deputy for Crop Production at the Ministry of Agriculture, pushed back against the widespread claim that 90% of Iran’s water resources are consumed by the agricultural sector. He argued that the real share is below 50%, noting that inaccurate estimates and unregulated data sources have distorted public perception.
Anjafi added that although the agricultural sector was initially expected to receive 77 billion cubic meters of water this year, the allocation dropped to 51 billion, a reduction of 26 billion cubic meters. Despite this shortfall, Iranian farmers produced 120–130 million tons of crops, underscoring the sector’s efficiency under constrained resources.
Officials say the combination of expanded recycled-water use in cities and more accurate allocation strategies in agriculture will be critical as Iran confronts intensifying water scarcity nationwide.
