IDSD Presentation - Oct '03 2

IAU

IWPCo

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment

Sayed Mohammad Alavi-Moghaddam Msc. Civil Engineering

Iran Water and Power Resources Development Company (IWPCo) alavi_moghaddam@yahoo.com

Sayed Mohsen Shamsoddin Tekiyeh Msc. Civil Engineering

Islamic Azad University South Tehran Branch (IAU) mohsenshams89@gmail.com

786

Iran is located in an arid and semi-arid area, with an average rainfall of 250 mm/year (around one third the world average), and is facing with extreme shortage of water resources due to climate change adverse effects. Although climate change is seen in most of the world, but the presence of two high mountains ranges in the north and west parts of the country have significant impacts. These mountains prevent the moisture-loaded atmosphere coming from, respectively, the Siberia and the Mediterranean Sea, to enter Iran’s main land, and results in decrease of rainfall and increase of drought occurrence in Iran, especially in recent years, this has been followed by more environmental impacts

Annual PrecipitationIran≈ 250 mm(World: 860 mm)

Mean Annual EvaporationIran ≈ 2100 mm (World: 700 mm)

Renewable water resources of Iran are around 25% of the world mean value

Climatological Condition

Developing Countries Most At Risk : (6 Climate Threats)

Drought Flood Storm Coastal 1m Coastal 5m Agriculture

Malawi Bangladesh Philippines All low-lying Island States

All low-lying Island States Sudan

Ethiopia China Bangladesh Vietnam Netherlands Senegal

Zimbabwe India Madagascar Egypt Japan Zimbabwe

India Cambodia Vietnam Tunisia Bangladesh Mali

Mozambique Mozambique Moldova Indonesia Philippines Zambia

Niger Laos Mongolia Mauritania Egypt Morocco

Mauritania Pakistan Haiti China Brazil Niger

Eritrea Sri Lanka Samoa Mexico Venezuela India

Sudan Thailand Tonga Myanmar Senegal Malawi

Chad Vietnam China Bangladesh Fiji Algeria

Kenya Benin Honduras Senegal Vietnam Ethiopia

Iran Rwanda Fiji Libya Denmark Pakistan

Middle Income Low Income Source: World Bank

General water scarcity assessment in Iran: According to Malin Falkenmark (the Swedish hydrologist), (1994), "Demographic Water Scarcity" is a parameter indicating long-term constraints on realistic expectations related to increased water demand. This parameter alone and in relation with "Technical Scarcity", a parameter, which highlights an imbalance between user demand and capacity to make further water resources (Kulshreshthe 1993), are used as indicators for assessing water scarcity in Iran.

Assessments of water stress and water scarcity in Iran

Water Scarcity Line <1000 m3 /person/year

Water Stress Line <1700 m3 /person/year

2021

Popu

latio

n

Avia

labl

e W

ater

Per

Cap

ia p

er Y

ear

water stress and water scarcity forecast for Iran

Assessment of water crisis: Based on the average data of drought of recent years according to the criteria in table, out of 30 river basins of the country, 5 are in critical, 11 in water shortage and 8 in water tension conditions.

( Hot Spots )

Some of the Hot Spots in Iran

Hamoun Lake in Crisis

Hamoun Lake in Crisis

Hamoun Lake, was the first country pond registered in International

Convention of Ramsar as a World Heritage!

Changes in groundwater table in Gorveh – Dehgolan Plains in north-west of Iran

Restricted (Prohibited) plains

According to FAO’s Report; continuation of decrease in rainfall is the main reason for drought in 18 of 30 provinces of the country. About half of the total population(i.e. more than 35 million people) are affected from this condition. Ten recent consecutive years of drought has placed an extreme strain on water resources, both for urban and agricultural needs. More than 50% of the population drinking water was affected, the worst in 30 years. The rate of precipitation during the recent years estimated to be 43% lower than the long-term average.

The main areas of key water related and cross-sectoral climate change vulnerability identified are: Institutional (institutional arrangements and capacity); Water quality and human health, particularly on lake shorelines near urban areas or river mouths; Fluctuations of Lake’s water levels; Generating electricity from hydropower; Potential over-exploitation of groundwater by agriculture;

Therefore Adaptive Responses need to be formulated and implemented to address these vulnerabilities.

There are two main management approaches for drought management:

1. Risk Management 2. Crisis Management.

Risk management is prediction of crisis conditions and planning for undertaking actions beforehand. At present, what is being undertaken in our country is Cr isis management, but believing our high vulnerability against drought, we should shift toward Risk management approach rather than Crisis management approach.

: sustainable use of water resources by implementing the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Preparation of national drought mitigation plan. Establishment of a drought information network. Providing forecasts and early warning services for all stakeholders.

* Education to change consumption / life style * Water conservation technologies * Recycling / water treatment systems * Improved irrigation technologies / agricultural practices * Appropriate pricing / water rights markets * Energy efficient desalination plants * Water catchment / harvesting * Community-based governance / partnerships * Better government policies / regulations

* Holistic management of ecosystems * Improved distribution infrastructure * Corporate water footprinting / sustainable manufacturing * International policy frameworks / institutional cooperation * Address pollution to improve quality of water * Public common resources / equitable access * R&D / Innovation * Water projects in developing countries / transfer of technology * Climate change mitigation

Water resources infrastructure (storage & transfer)

Demand management (pricing, awareness, efficiency)

Sectorial water transfer and markets

Regional agreements on shared water resources

Laws and regulations

Wastewater reuse

Desalination

Climate change monitoring

• Agricultural policies and practices • Diversify economy and develop human capital to reduce dependency

on agriculture and water intensive industries. • Food security and importation policies. • Regional trade – Energy and agricultural and water intensive products • Development of Renewable energy resources • Social programs to influence population growth • Urban planning

«Qur'an and the Ethics of Water» «The Attitude of Islam Towards the "Sustainable Care

of Nature" and the Problem of Freshwater Scarcity »

«We created every living thing from water » (Anbiyya : 30)

«Eat and drink but do not waste by excess for God loveth not the wasters» (Araf : 31)

«Eat and drink from God's bounties and do not spoil the earth with mindless abuse and corruption» (Baqara : 60)

Water Resources Management 2013