Iran to Cut Water Supply to High-Consumption Households Amid Worsening Crisis

Iranwire – Iran’s energy minister announced on Wednesday that households consuming water far above government standards will face supply cuts in addition to fines, as the country grapples with a worsening water crisis.

Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi told parliament members and water industry officials in Kerman province that some households in Tehran are consuming up to 145 times the recommended water usage levels.

“Such behavior is not acceptable,” Aliabadi said. “In these cases, in addition to fines, water cuts will also be enforced.”

The measure marks a shift from the government’s previous policy of restricting water supplies rather than cutting them off entirely.

Aliabadi acknowledged that “our slogan this year is restriction instead of cuts,” but said extreme cases would still face disconnection.

The announcement comes a week after President Masoud Pezeshkian suggested evacuating Tehran as a possible solution to the escalating water crisis, which officials have largely attributed to management failures.

Experts have long warned that Iran’s water problems stem from factors beyond household overconsumption, including poorly planned dam construction, ineffective crisis management, environmental neglect, and prolonged drought conditions.

Critics say authorities have failed to take meaningful preventive measures despite years of warnings from specialists about the growing crisis.