Iran's water emergency worsens amid heat and outagesCEFR B1
10 Aug 2025
Adapted from Reza Talebi, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Matin Hosseini, Unsplash
High summer temperatures and widespread power outages have deepened Iran’s water emergency. Authorities closed public offices in at least 12 provinces and warned of a possible week-long nationwide power shutdown to save energy, a move linked to the wider water and energy crisis.
Official data show sharp falls in dam reserves by mid-July 2025 and a marked decline in inflow to reservoirs since the start of the water year. Low rainfall, reduced snow storage, strong evaporation and heavy groundwater extraction are the main causes.
Groundwater loss has accelerated land subsidence in some urban areas, and officials warn Tehran and nearby provinces face the greatest stress. Rationing may be inevitable in summer 2025, and experts call for reforms in agriculture, industry and urban water use, plus recycling and limits on uncontrolled growth.
Difficult words
- power outage — time when electricity supply stops for homespower outages
- reservoir — a large man-made water storage areareservoirs
- inflow — water that moves into a lake or reservoir
- evaporation — process where liquid water becomes water vapour
- groundwater — water stored under the Earth's surface
- land subsidence — when the ground slowly sinks or falls
- rationing — controlled limit on how much resource people use
- extraction — the act of taking something out from somewhere
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could recycling help reduce water use in your city? Give one or two examples.
- What changes would you make at home if water rationing starts? Explain briefly.
- Which area — agriculture, industry or urban use — should change first to save water, and why?
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