Tehran Faces Water Shortage As Amir Kabir Dam Nears Dry

Tehran is facing a severe water crisis as its main source of drinking water, the Amir Kabir dam, holds only eight percent of its capacity, approximately 14 million cubic meters, enough to supply the city for just two more weeks amid a historic drought. The country's worst drought in decades has led to a 100 percent drop in precipitation in the Tehran region, drastically reducing the dam's water from 86 million cubic meters a year ago. Tehran, a megacity of over 10 million people, relies on five reservoirs for water, but officials have not disclosed the status of the other four. The city consumes about three million cubic meters of water daily, prompting water supply cuts to several neighborhoods and the declaration of public holidays to conserve water and energy. Power outages have become frequent during a recent heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40°C, exacerbating the crisis. Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian has warned that the water crisis is more serious than publicly acknowledged.