Iran's water emergency worsens amid heat and outagesCEFR A2
10 Aug 2025
Adapted from Reza Talebi, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Matin Hosseini, Unsplash
Summer heat and widespread power outages have made Iran's water problems worse. The government closed public offices in at least twelve provinces and warned of a possible week-long national shutdown to save energy.
Officials report big drops in dam levels and less rain than normal. Groundwater is falling because too many wells are used. The capital, Tehran, faces high water stress and may need rationing in summer 2025. Experts say changes in farming, water use and recycling are needed but big solutions are not yet in place.
Difficult words
- outage — time when electricity service is not availableoutages
- province — a large area inside a countryprovinces
- groundwater — water under the ground used from wells
- rationing — limiting how much water people can use
- recycling — using and cleaning water to use again
- widespread — existing or happening in many places
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you experienced a water shortage where you live? What happened?
- What could people do at home to use less water?
- Do you think recycling water is a good idea? Why or why not?
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