Iran is struggling with severe water shortages due to a prolonged heatwave, with temperatures reaching as high as 50C (122F) in some areas. The country’s reservoirs of dams supplying water to the capital city of Tehran are at their lowest level in over a century. Authorities have urged residents to limit their water consumption as a measure to conserve resources.
The ongoing heatwave has caused widespread disruptions, with several provinces experiencing “water outages lasting between 12 and 18 hours” in some areas. The government has also reduced water supplies to mitigate the crisis, leading to increased electricity costs for households. Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi apologized for the reduced supplies, citing a need to better manage resources.
The shortage is part of a larger issue of mismanagement and overexploitation of underground resources, exacerbated by climate change. Water scarcity is a pressing concern in Iran’s arid southern provinces, where temperatures often exceed 50C (122F) during the summer months.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/20/heatwave-causes-water-shortages-in-iran-as-temps-top-50c