Iran’s Tabriz Hit by Drinking Water Cutoffs

The north-western Iranian city of Tabriz is grappling with a severe water crisis, with the residents  facing interruptions in the supply of piped drinking water for a fourth consecutive day. 

In response to mounting public anger, officials from the company managing water supply and wastewater services in East Azerbaijan province assured the population that the issue would be resolved by August 4. 

However, reports indicate that the water shortage persists.

Residents are suffering from a complete drinking water cutoff or have access to low-pressure water during limited hours. 

Mohammad Khani, CEO of East Azerbaijan Water and Sewerage Company, blamed "excessive water consumption during the summer months" for the problem.

He claimed that a nationwide shutdown on August 2-3 resulted in a 20-percent rise in water consumption in Tabriz. 

Khani assured that new water sources have been developed to remedy the situation. 

Recent images showed that the Nahand Dam, a vital water source for Tabriz, was depleted to such an extent that local media referred to it as the "Nahand Desert."

To address the water crisis, the East Azerbaijan Regional Water Company has initiated a project aimed to better manage water resources, optimize water consumption and build a drain to collect ground water. 

Water shortages – and protests over water scarcity – are becoming more commonplace across Iran, with poor water management, drought and corruption-ridden infrastructure projects contributing to the crisis.