Tehran's water crisis deepens with 80% of dam capacity empty

Detailed summary

Tehran is facing a severe water crisis, with 80 percent of the capacity of the five dams supplying drinking water to Iran's capital still empty despite recent rainfall, provincial…

Tehran is facing a severe water crisis, with 80 percent of the capacity of the five dams supplying drinking water to Iran's capital still empty despite recent rainfall, provincial authorities warned Saturday.

Tehran Governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian said the recent rains had helped improve water supplies, but reservoir levels remained far below what was needed to restore normal conditions.

The warning follows six consecutive years of drought that have depleted Tehran's surface water reserves and increased pressure on underground water sources.

Earlier this month, Tehran's water utility reported that the five dams were operating at less than 20 percent of their combined capacity, warning that continued shortages could threaten water supplies in the coming months.

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