1. Water Resource& Policies
In The Name Of God
Country Report from Iran
Water Resource& Policies
S. Shirzad
Ministry of Energy
Water Resources Management Company
Aug. 2007

2. Contents Water Resources Potentials and Related Issues
Major challenges and Trends in Iranian Water Resources Management
Recent Approaches and Water Policies
Conclusions

3. Water Resources Potentials and Related Issues

5. Iran Location Area: 1.648 million km2 Population: 69 million
No of provinces: 30
Average Rainfall: 250 mm
Neighboring Countries:
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia,
Turkey Saudi Arabia
Oman
Kuwait
Qatar
Bahrain
U.A.Emirates

6. Population Growth and Water Scarcity
• The country’s population increase: from 10 millions in 1920 to more than 69 millions in 2006 (about 7 times ) • At present Iran is the 17th most populated countries in the world • by the end of Iran will be classified as one of the 10 most populated regions in the world (based on the UN data ) • Therefore the need for water has been increased but still the quantity of water is not adequate.

7. • Total land area of the country : 165 Mha • Cultivable area : 37 Mha
Land, Irrigation and Agricultural
• Total land area of the country : Mha
• Cultivable area : Mha
• Actual cultivated area : Mha
• Forests area: Mha
• Pastures, mountains and deserts area: Mha
• Irrigated erea: Mha
• Rain-fed land erea: Mha
• fallow land area: Mha
• under surface irrigation: Mha (95%)
• under the pressurized irrigation: Mha (5%)

8. Iran’s climate varies from region to region:
Climate and Precipitation
Iran’s climate varies from region to region:
• The winter temperatures in the mountainous areas of the north-west drop as low as -29˚C
• The Khuzestan Plain has extremely hot humid summer with an average temperature of about 35˚C
• Most of the interior plateau has a dry climate, but the winters are mild and pleasant.
• Iran has 8 climatic zones varying from very dry to very wet.
• The average annual precipitation is 250 mm and the range (varies from 50 mm to more than 1600 mm )
• Based on the average annual precipitation, Iran’s climate is classified among the semi-arid and arid.

9. Water Resources Potentials and Related Issues
Six major water basins and Rate of precipitation
in IRAN
Basin
Area
(×10ˆ3 Km2)
Rainfall (km3/
year)
As % of total rainfall
Central Plateau
831
138 32
Persian Gulf and Oman sea
430
162 38
Caspian Sea
177 83
19.5
Hamoun Lake
106 12 3
Orumie Lake 53 19 5
Serakhs 44 11
2.5
Total
1641
425
100
Major catchment Basins location

10. Rivers & Water Resources

11. Annual Renewable Water Availability
Renewable Fresh Water
Year
Annual Renewable Water Availability
(cubic meter/capita)
1956
7000
2007
1900
2020
1300

12. Water Resources Potentials
According to studies carried out for formulation of the Iran Water Comprehensive Plan, the main characteristics of annual precipitation and its conversion to water resources are shown:
Annual Water Resources in Billion Cubic Meters
• Average annual precipitation
400 BCM
• Renewable water resources
130 BCM
• Average annual evaporation & transpiration
270 BCM
• Surface currents
92 BCM
• Seepage to alluvial aquifers
38 BCM
Return Water from Consumption BCM
Total BCM

13. Water Consumption at a Glance

14. Water Stress and food production in Iran

15. Elements of Water Management
Policy Makers
Parliament
Supreme Water Council, presided by the President of Iran
Governance (Ministry of Energy)
Deputy Minister for Water Affairs (Iran Water Resources Management Company)
Regional Water Companies
Deputy Minister for Water & Wastewater Affairs (Water & Wastewater Engineering Company)
Provincial Water & Wastewater companies
Other Stakeholders
Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture
Ministry of Industry
Mines, Ministry of Urban Development
Environmental Protection Organization, …
Private Sector
126 Consultant firms
216 Contractors

16. Infrastructure Storage and Diversion Dams
Irrigation and Drainage Networks
Urban Water, Wastewater and Sanitation
Hydropower

17. Regulating Volume (BCM)
DAMS
Under Construction
Under Operation 85 25
18.1
No. of Dams
Total Capacity
(BCM)
Regulating Volume (BCM) 95 31 35

18. Irrigation & Drainage Networks
Under Operation
Number of IDN: 66
Area under command (ha):
Under Construction
Number of IDN: 49
Area under command (ha): 500,000

19. Availability of Potable Water for Urban and Rural Population
Title
1979
2005
Urban Population Access to Potable Water (Percent)
62.3
97.8
Rural Population Access to Potable Water (Percent)
Less than 24 85

20. Urban Water and Sanitation
Total Urban Habitat (million)
Population Covered by Urban Water Services (million)
No. of Cities under Service
Percent of Population under Service(%)
Supplied Water (MCM)
Total Length of Water Distribution Network (km)
No. of Subscribers ,800,000
No. of Water Treatment Plants

21. Hydropower Installed Capacity 6262 MW Under construction 7000 MW
Potential Capacity MW

22. Energy Production Rates in 2020

23. Growth Trend of Hydropower Installing Capacity in Iran

24. 2. Major challenges and Trends in Iranian Water Resources Management

25. 2. Major challenges and Trends in Iranian Water Resources Management
Unbalance sequence between demand and supply of water resources
Excessive withdrawal of groundwater resources
Demand Management in accordance to priorities set in the National Water Plan
Assessment of total value and cost of water relevant to each basin
Pollution of water resources and its economic and environmental consequences
Efficiency in water irrigation systems
Risk Management of water related natural disaster ( i. e. drought and flood)
Implementation of National Integrated Water Resources Management
Efficient and equitable water price for various uses
Land use planning
Unaccounted for water (UFW)

26. Water Consumption Vision
population
90 million
Consumption Increase due to urbanization and improved welfare
Water Demand
We need bcm more

27. How We Can Prepare More Fresh Water in Future
Improvement Water efficiency
Increasing the Storage Capacity
Modern Water Harvest Methods
Water & Wastewater Recycle
Salty Water Desalination

28. 3. Recent Approaches and Water Policies

29. 3. Recent Approaches and Water Policies
In order to solve the challenges Iran has developed some important and strategic plans which are as follow:
Promotion of Private Investment in Water Projects
Long-Term Development Strategies for Iran’s Water Resources
Creation of Water Related Councils
Strengthening Scientific and Practical Skills and Potentials
Promotion of sustainable development and environmental views in water resources management
The 4th Development Program of the Country-Water Sector

30. 3. Recent Approaches and Water Policies
3. 1. Promotion of Private Investment in Water Projects
Due to increasing water scarcity in the country policy makers have been forced to proceed in more open minded strategies and to share the stakeholders to participate in water resources development projects. In this regard, the Law of Promotion of Investment in Water Projects was approved in 2002 and is now effective.

31. 3. Recent Approaches and Water Policies
3. 2. Long-Term Development Strategies for Iran’s Water Resources
With respect to the great social and economical development role that water resources have in the country, a code of conduct which have illustrated the future water strategies, have been prepared. According to the challenges, it has been planned to increase irrigation network efficiency in such way to decrease agricultural share of water from 92 percent to less than 87 percent within the next 20 years. Since water pollution is now considered as one of the major issues of concern in recent decades, it has been planned that strict control of wastewater discharge to the environment is going to be respected in all aspects. Promotion of public awareness activities in order to increase people’s share in conservation of water resources is also planned to be part of the future goals of water resources strategies in the country.

32. 3. Recent Approaches and Water Policies
3. 3. Strengthening Scientific and Practical Skills and Potentials
In order to strengthen regional cooperation, the Regional Center on Urban Water Management (RCUWM-Tehran) was established in with collaboration of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Duties of the RCUWM-Tehran are to promote the transfer of technical knowledge and experience and to promote awareness and capacities in all aspects of urban water management .

33. 3. Recent Approaches and Water Policies
3. 4. Creation of Water Related Councils
Due to the relevant increasing demand potential over water resources and the importance of this valuable source, the Supreme Council of Water, which is headed by the president, is responsible to coordinate the future strategies of Iran’s water resources. Furthermore various organizations and NGOs are also active in different parts of the country to cooperate with governmental body in order to better implement the conducted strategies.

34. 3. Recent Approaches and Water Policies
3. 5. Promotion of sustainable development and environmental views in water resources management
On the basis of sustainable development approaches. economic development will be desirable. only when it is not followed by environmental damages and exhaustion of natural resources which the coming generations will need.
Ministry of Energy (Water Resources Management Company) has always tried its best to pay attentions to environmental issues sustainable development. Therefore offices related to environmental affairs and sustainable development has been established in headquarter and provisional water authorities in order to guarantee that all its activities would follow environmental friendly concept .

35. How to Reach?
The long-term development strategies are on the basis of IWRM deserve to respond:
• Economic efficiency • Water for food and social security • Water for environment and sustainable development
In addition to executing development plans & supplying water through dams construction, considerations of IWRM, EIA and sustainable development should be taken into attention.

36. The 4th Development Program of the Country-Water Sector (2004-2009)
The Fourth Development Program consists of a Water sector in which 6 qualitative and 19 quantitative goals are considered. of the main qualitative goals the tailoring could be mentioned:
- Integration and reconstruction of the management institutions - Development and exploitation of water resources in the framework of sustainable development - Mobilizing more financial resources to increase investment rate on water projects - Strengthening public contributions - Enhancing water economy efficiency

37. The 4th Development Program of the Country-Water Sector (2004-2009)
ITEM
Average Annual Growth (%)
Dams Regulated Capacity
Small Water Supply Plans
Main Irrigation Networks
River and Coast Training
Artificial Recharge
Quantitative and Qualitative Water Resources Studies
Qualitative Water Resources Monitoring
Applied Researches
Groundwater Exploitation
Domestic Water-Urban and Rural
Domestic Wastewater
6.5
7.41
0.58
16.5
7.4
66.6
49.6
15.1
0.94 6
16.9

40. Thank you for your attention