Iran Was Facing "Water Bankruptcy" Before The Bombs Began Falling - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica highlights that Iran’s most pressing existential crisis is its rapidly approaching "water bankruptcy," a situation worsened more by decades of mismanagement than by international sanctions or recent military conflicts. Historically, Iran relied on an ancient water management system called qanats—underground tunnels that transported groundwater over long distances using gravity without the need for pumping. These qanats, some over 2,500 years old and totaling more than 250,000 miles, were resilient to natural and man-made disasters and provided a stable water supply with minimal variation. However, in the 20th century, Iran shifted away from this sustainable system, favoring modern approaches like dam construction and extensive groundwater pumping, which ultimately depleted underground water reserves and neglected the qanats. The consequences of these changes have been severe. A prolonged drought in northern Iran, including Tehran, has intensified water scarcity to the point where the government is considering relocating millions of residents. Experts attribute the crisis not solely to climate change but to