A water conference opened on Tuesday at the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) to discuss ways and means for improving water productivity and management.
The two-day "Second Biennial Conference on Water Economics" event in Tehran is exploring venues to promote the private sector input in water engineering and management and tackle the country's chronic water problems and related management, Otaghiranonline.ir reported.
Addressing the conference, Gholam Hussein Shafei, the ICCIMA chief said, "Introducing new legislation is critical to creating the conditions for private companies to play a more active role in water affairs.”
Lack of transparent and efficient regulations is one of the biggest impediments to private sector contribution and investment in the key water sector that for decades has been facing a losing battle as demand rises and supply declines.
The senior official implied that all water supply projects[, namely dam building and pipe laying,] should be contracted to private firms and the government should function only as an overseer instead of tasking all the initiatives that hardly produce the desired results.
Referring to collaboration between ICCIMA and the Energy Ministry, he said, "The two sides have implemented several joint projects in the past. This working relation can and must expand."
"Illegal water wells have rendered underground water tables dry," he complained, adding that such lawlessness is one major problem that must be addressed sooner rather than later with binding regulations.
Reportedly, more than 90% of Iran’s water resources are used by unsustainable and wasteful farming practices.
In addition, per capita water use in metropolises, such as Tehran and Isfahan, exceeds 200 liters, whereas the global average is 150 liters.
