A significant decrease in rainfall and imbalances in water and electricity resources have raised the alarm of a crisis in the country. According to the Ministry of Energy, rainfall in some areas has decreased by up to 40 percent, and forecasts indicate that this trend will continue in the coming months.
According to Ashura News, citing ISNA, the situation with water resources has not only challenged the supply of drinking water in densely populated cities, but has also put additional pressure on the water resources of the agricultural sector. Meanwhile, experts believe that one of the main reasons for the imbalance is the lack of efficiency in the production and consumption of water and electricity. Now the question arises: what plan do the government and the responsible agencies have to deal with this crisis?
Unprecedented drought and threat to drinking water supply
Mohammad Javanbakht, Deputy Minister of Energy for Water and Water Resources Affairs, referring to the significant decrease in rainfall, announced that this situation has caused a very severe drought and has made drinking water and agricultural water supply difficult in provinces such as Tehran, Khuzestan, and Isfahan.
Stating that the average rainfall reduction was more than 50 percent until three days ago, but with the recent rainfall, this figure has reached 40 percent, he said: "Predictions indicate that the lack of rainfall will continue in the coming months, and these conditions require the management of existing resources and the implementation of effective policies to deal with the crisis." Consumption management is the only solution to overcome the crisis.
In addition to the problems related to the reduction in rainfall and the imbalance of water resources, the spokesperson for the country's water industry also emphasized the need to change the approach to water consumption. Referring to the importance of water resource management, Firuz Bozorgzadeh said: "The occurrence of a normal wet year in the midst of consecutive drought years can help store water in surface and underground reservoirs, but this alone is not enough and we need smart consumption management."
Warning about excessive withdrawal of groundwater, he added: "This not only causes salinization and water pollution, but also threatens the stability of underground aquifers." Any increase in the withdrawal of these resources must be done with careful expert studies.
Addressing citizens, Bozorgzadeh emphasized: The only way out of the crisis is to reduce water consumption. Urban consumers, the agricultural sector, and industries must change their consumption patterns. In the agricultural sector, it is essential to implement a cultivation pattern appropriate to drought conditions and reduce the area under cultivation of water-intensive crops.
He also warned against superficial and incorrect solutions and said: Digging new wells or increasing withdrawal from underground resources will not only not solve the problem of water shortage, but will also exacerbate the crisis. The only solution is public cooperation and acceptance of the reality of water shortage.
The need for consumption management and preventive measures
Given the current situation, experts emphasize the need for consumption management and implementing long-term programs to increase resource productivity. Reducing water waste in distribution networks, optimizing consumption in the agricultural sector, and increasing the efficiency of power plants are among the measures that can be effective in improving the situation.
In a situation where the country is facing severe drought and water and electricity imbalances, the support of the people in managing consumption and implementing measures by the government can be the key to overcoming this crisis.
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