Tabriz faces water crisis as supplies dwindle to 75-day reserve

Water consumption in the northwestern city of Tabriz has reached a critical level, with only 75 days of drinking water remaining, a senior official warned this week.

Yousef Ghaffarzadeh, Head of the East Azerbaijan Regional Water Company, disclosed the alarming figures during a press conference covered by Iran’s Mehr News Agency, Caliber.Az reports

He stated that the average water consumption across the region stands at 12,000 liters per second, peaking at over 13,000 liters during high-demand periods.

Annual drinking water usage in the region has climbed to 380 million cubic meters — a volume Ghaffarzadeh says demands immediate and strategic management. Rural communities also account for around 90 million cubic meters of water consumption annually.

The official further revealed that five cities in East Azerbaijan province are currently on "red alert" status, indicating a severe water crisis, while nine more are approaching similarly critical conditions. Tabriz, the provincial capital, is among the areas already experiencing crisis-level shortages.

Authorities are urging the public to reduce consumption and cooperate with water-saving measures as they explore long-term solutions to address the growing crisis.

By Sabina Mammadli