Tehran, Iran, has run out of water

[AverageOldGuy]

Source: Scientific American

President Masoud Pezeshkian reportedly told officials last week that the capital of Iran would have to move from Tehran.

Since at least 2008, scientists have warned that unchecked groundwater pumping for the city and for agriculture was rapidly draining its aquifers. The overuse did not just deplete underground reserves—it destroyed them, as the land compressed and sank irreversibly. One recent study found that Iran’s central plateau, where most of the country’s aquifers are located, is sinking by more than 35 centimeters each year. As a result, the aquifers lose about 1.7 billion cubic meters of water annually as the ground is permanently crushed, leaving no space for underground water storage to recover, says Darío Solano, a geoscientist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

“We saw this coming,” says Solano.

Other major cities like Cape Town, Mexico City, Jakarta and parts of California are also facing day zero scenarios as they sink and run out of water.

It’s a combination of mismanagement and climate change. The authorities have been warned not to pump the water so quickly, but they chose not to listen.

The capital may move to the Makran coast in the south. The rest of Tehran’s population will have to figure it out themselves.

Read more: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/irans-capital-has-run-out-of-water-forcing-it-to-move/

[FalloutShelter]

1. Holy shit!

I can’t believe this is not a bigger story.

I know why it isn’t, but it still blows my mind.

[Beartracks]

39. I was just saying "Holy shit!" as I scrolled down the screen, and then saw your reply at the same time.

So... Ditto. Bigly.

=================

[Nittersing]

2. Data centers?

Do all these AI data centers being built use only fresh water to cool their equipment?

It can't possibly be sustainable.

[littlemissmartypants]

16. No. Indiscriminate drilling of individual wells for farming in Iran's case.

At least that's the explanation that was given on the documentary I watched a few months ago that explained the perilous journey that the farmers were launching themselves on.

[dobleremolque]

49. Ogllalah acquifer, anyone?

Ogllalah acquifer

[JCMach1]

56. Legal and illegal boreholes... Some of them industry

Indiscriminately using the water that was already short

[paleotn]

17. It's not data centers in Tehran.

Though that is a serious problem elsewhere.

[Bluetus]

30. Some media reports talk about data center water usage. Makes no sense to me.

Any water used in a data center should be part of a closed loop. It should be just like any other HVAC system. If any data centers are using evaporative cooling, that's horrible.

This whole story is rather shocking, especially the collapses that make any natural reversal impossible. Yet another case of industrialized human activity destroying in a century what took nature millions of years to create. The biggest aquifers literally took millions of years to be carved out. If they don't collapse, then there is some possibility of a change in water management practices restoring those aquifers, but once collapsed they will probably never be recreated.

[RandomNumbers]

42. I'll admit to not understanding the details BUT

2 points:

1. the water can not (er, SHOULD not) be discharged directly back to the environment, as in discharged to a body of water, while it is above the temperature of that water. Yes, you said closed-loop - but it certainly was not this way in the past, back when I was paying more attention in this specific area, it was a huge problem - power plants and industry using water for cooling, then discharging heated water back into the environment, thus raising the temperature of whatever body of water they were discharging to. (much aquatic life is rather sensitive to temperature, so raising the temp is not a good thing)

Given the relative cluelessness on both sides of the aisle, and the actual malevolence on the reich-wing side, I doubt that there have been substantive and sustained improvements in how energy-hungry entities operate in this regard.


2. Closed loop would be great, but given probably not (point 1 above), I'm presuming there's some volume loss throughout the process. I'm not 100% sure there isn't a small loss over time even with a closed loop. (by closed loop I assume you mean as in a ground loop geothermal system. Which they all should be using but I can pretty much guarantee they are not.)

[Bluetus]

50. I have probably been in 200 data centers from 1970 to 2005, some of the largest in the world at the time

They all had HVAC that was air exchange. 100% of them. Perhaps the mega centers are using a different system today. My experience is 20 years old now.

If they are using some kind of water exchange, then the municipalities should require them to connect to community resources so that the excess heat can go to industrial purposes, home heating, or energy reclamation.

In my state, there are over 200 applications for these big data centers. Our legislature passed laws that give sales tax benefits basically forever, property tax abatement, discounted electric rates, and also makes the citizens (who get absolutely no value from any of this) to pay 20% of the cost of the new generation and distribution facilities.

The Republicans in charge seem very proud of themselves for attracting data centers that will be huge buildings that employ practically nobody and pay far less in taxes than they cost the community.

And none of these applications are under the big names (Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Meta etc). They all are separate companies that will make big profits from all these tax advantages.

[hunter]

59. They are using evaporative cooling.

This reduces overall energy use but increases water use.

Even if the data center itself uses 100% air cooling, regional water use will still increase if local power plants use evaporative cooling.

These coolers evaporate water into the air, leaving behind saltier water contaminated with anti corrosion agents, anti scaling agents, and biocides that are harmful to the natural environment and local fresh water supplies if dumped indiscriminately.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooling_tower

[rzemanfl]

51. I admit to never considering this years ago when fishing in the dead of winter

in the warm water offshore of the Point Beach nuclear plant on Lake Michigan.

[AZJonnie]

3. Iran is probably in a better position than many countries that will soon face this. At least they have oil reserves

And a coastline. In theory they can move the population closer to the sea and burn their oil to build and run large desalinization plants. Maybe build some "aquifers", Roman style.

I'm not saying this approach is GOOD, just that they may have the resources to keep at least some of their people from dying of dehydration. Not sure any of those other places has a similar option, except places in the USA it happens to.

[NickB79]

4. Desal plants are entirely insufficient for their needs

And the closest coastline to Tehran is the Caspian Sea. It's already seeing massive water loss from agriculture, and a mountain range separates it from the population.

[AZJonnie]

6. I thought my verbiage made it pretty clear I believe that avenue was "insufficient"

Hence, "at least some of their people from dying"

But yeah, to be clear, yes, it would be. You're still better off having your own oil vs. not if your country is in this situation, methinks.

[Kaleva]

36. Their southern coastline isn't good for human habitation

It is a very hot and humid region

[JoseBalow]

5. Sucks for them

[wolfie001]

24. Save your popcorn for the US

Just a matter of time my friend.

[img][/img]

[mahina]

28. Holy cats!

[wolfie001]

29. Yes! Almost 50 years ago

Cali farmers have been abusing that valley for 150 years. I'm sure 90% of 'em voted for the fat orange imbecile too.

[calimary]

48. Yikes!!!

[JoseBalow]

52. I've been hearing about the collapse in the central valley

but I had no idea it was that dramatic!

[Qutzupalotl]

7. Here in the states, we have Nestle doing much the same...

drawing large amounts of groundwater to be bottled and sold. I heard Saudi Arabia also bought water rights somewhere in the southwest.

Water is the new oil.

[paleotn]

18. In a rapidly warming world, it sure is.

[wackadoo wabbit]

35. I'm in Arizona. Here, the Saudis are sucking the groundwater dry . . .

. . . so that they can grow alfalfa to feed their cattle overseas.

In a very dry state, that's been in a state of drought for three decades that shows no signs of letting up, this is a very, very bad thing.

[Mosby]

40. Not anymore.

Governor Katie Hobbs terminated the leases in March 2024.

[wackadoo wabbit]

58. I wish you were correct that this isn't happening any longer, but, alas, it still is

Last year, Hobbs ended one lease on state-trust land. But there are others. And the Saudis are also growing alfalfa on land that the state doesn't control.

AG Kris Mayes (whom I just adore; she may be my favorite politician of all time) claims that the Saudis using this water constitutes a public nuisance, but there's some question of whether she's got standing to sue.

Here's some reading on this:

Legal battle continues over Saudi groundwater pumping in Arizona
https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/10/11/legal-battle-continues-over-saudi-groundwater-pumping-in-arizona/

So as you can see, this is not at all in any way settled.

[Norrrm]

8. "warned not to pump the water so quickly, but they chose not to listen."

"Since at least 2008,"

Politician:::: This will make me unpopular and lose support. Let the next guy do the hard work.

[3Hotdogs]

9. I believe our mid-west is also vulnerable.

Last edited Sat Nov 22, 2025, 12:38 AM - Edit history (1)

[ancianita]

21. Depends. The Great Lakes and Mississippi are water sources since the Midwest shares weather

geological sources of water with Canada. Instead of oil pipelines, the US needs water pipelines from the Midwest and Canada to feed US agricultural states.

The problem of water conservation in CA is a class war problem, with wealthy landowners wasting water on water intensive crops simply for export, even though they've been monitored and fined.

[hunter]

10. That's a big engineering problem and a bigger political problem.

Moving the capital does not inspire confidence.

[IronLionZion]

11. North of Tehran are snow capped mountains, green forests, and the Caspian Sea

So aquaducts and pipelines might help them.

Moving the Capital to Makran coast puts it too close to Pakistan and the Persian Gulf. They'd be vulnerable.

[paleotn]

20. The Caspian is rapidly diminishing.

For many of the same reasons. Aral sea syndrome.

https://carnegieendowment.org/russia-eurasia/politika/2025/03/caspian-environment-crisis?lang=en

Metro Tehran has 15 million residents. Trying to engineer their way out of this now is beyond their capabilities technically and economically. Working on it over a couple decades might have been viable but this would require a crash program that would stretch even the US. Sad thing is, they're just the first. They won't be the last. Climate driven mass migrations have begun. While our leaders continue to pay lip service at the latest COP and accomplish little of any significance.

[sarisataka]

12. We should pay attention and learn what it takes to move a city

For when it comes time to have to move Los Angeles

[ToxMarz]

14. I think the lesson will not be how to move a city like Los Angeles

because there is no good solution to be learned. What they need to learn is not to be so reckless to the pont of needing something so drastic. Stop the insanity before it's too late

[BidenRocks]

23. They are still arguing the cost

of rebuilding the burn areas with underground utilities.
Imagine an entire urban relocation.
Build it cheap and fast or do it right?

Back to the old saying, ya can't drink oil.
Sucks when you pissed off your neighbors.

[hunter]

31. Los Angeles will be fine.

California agriculture, maybe not so much.

Even Phoenix will be fine, so long as there is power for the air conditioning.

These places can afford desalinated water and sewage recycling.

Higher elevation cities around the world like Tehran will have a much tougher go of it.

All assuming, or course, that our current world civilization doesn't collapse.

[Exp]

45. I wouldn't bet on that. Phoenix would likely be hit by drought sooner. nt

[Exp]

13. In the U.S.::: Ogallala Aquifer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer

[markodochartaigh]

41. I grew up in Amarillo on the Ogallala aquifer.

It's a semi-arid region with a continental climate that swings from -16° to 115°. Dust storms are becoming more common. A few years back the area got less than 1 inch of rain in eleven months. Last year more than 1,500 square miles burned, and Ted Cruz and Ronnie Johnson are pushing for help for local ranchers while voting to cut benefits for the poor.
The counties in this area were generally 80-95% for Trump.

?si=-lgUUzIv8sRR79wk

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokehouse_Creek_Fire

https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/06/federal-livestock-aid-texas-wildfires-ted-cruz-ronny-jackson/

[surfered]

15. We're about to run out of water here after years long drought. Reservoirs down to 10.7%

While Abbot twiddles his thumbs. Actively looking at desalination, which needs a lot of electricity. But Bitcoin mining needs electricity, too and Abbott wants Texas to go big on Bitcoin.

[paleotn]

22. Abbott will be dead when the shit really hits the fan and he knows it.

So much for caring about one's grandchildren. Oh, that's right! Wheels doesn't have any grandchildren.

[ananda]

19. We have known there were going to be serious water issues...

for quite a while.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg globally.

[RandomNumbers]

43. +1000. And how many people won't pay attention to this canary

because it is Iran?

(canary as in canary in the coal mine)

[ananda]

54. Is the world just too large for people to process...

when things are not happening to them right now?

[RandomNumbers]

55. I think that it is, at least for the average person

who needs to deal with earning a living to eat and be secure in their home, and probably take care of kids or parents or other persons or critters.

It is too large for ME to process everything that is going on, especially now, with a malevolent force running this country and many countries in the world. But even before Trump - NONE of us can manage to be aware of everything important that is happening, and exactly how we should live our lives for the best outcome.

I believe that part of the role of government is to administer a bureaucracy of subject matter experts who can "process" the important facts of certain critical areas with much more competence than you or I. Critical areas include (but are not limited to): national security/defense; dangerous technology such as nuclear power (and now AI); fraud and corruption; and yes, environmental protection.

Too bad a bunch of average people in this country didn't see the value in delegating those responsibilities to the subject matter experts, when they supported Trump and his clown car.

[Warpy]

25. Subsience was becoming a big problem there even before the water crisis

There was a decent story on it at Al Jazeera (one reason I watch them occasionally, their reporting in the region is great as long as you don't expect puff pieces on Israel). In fact, I have to wonder if some of the expolosions heard around the city in the last coule of years might be the destruction of structurally unsound buildings damaged by severe cracking and sinking.

The current problem is drought. They thought they had time to move things more slowly, maybe making Tehran an administrative center, only, while moving most of the population elsehwere but the failure of the rains to fill their reservoir has made things there a much faster moving crisis.

This would be horrific enough, but throw in a war and a government of religious ninnies who picked the wrong allies and it's just epically bad.

[yaesu]

26. maybe russia can ship water as payment for their drones. nt

[mahina]

27. I'm really sorry for the people. We have to watch out for this here too.

I’m not sorry for the government

[electric_blue68]

32. Oh, dear, for the regular citizens there.

Last edited Sat Nov 22, 2025, 01:12 PM - Edit history (2)

[pansypoo53219]

33. quite a while ago saw some tour show + they had a melon farmer + i never saw such a waste of water.

cucumbers need water too.

[gay texan]

34. Stories of things to come.... n/t

[raccoon]

37. The canary in the coal mine.

[RandomNumbers]

44. didn't see your post

just used that expression in my reply. Very apt analogy.

Except that the canary was used intentionally, in an actual design to warn of an issue to save lives.

Seems like Iran is an unintentional canary here.

And I doubt that enough of the right people will pay enough attention and react properly to avoid more unnecessary tragedies. (Kind of the story around environmental destruction much more broadly, sigh)

[calimary]

46. That's a good way of putting it.

“Iran is an unintentional canary here.”

I always felt sorry for the canary in the coal mine. Where it didn’t belong, couldn’t fly to freedom, and was trapped - and doomed.

[gfarber]

38. Tehran

There once was a capital grand,
Tehran, on subsiding land.
Pezeshkian said,
“We must move it instead,”
For the ground’s turning more into sand.

The aquifers drained day by day,
As the pumping stole water away.
The land bowed in defeat—
Crushed with no room to replete—
Till the reservoirs all gave way.

Sank the plateau at a worrying rate,
Thirty-five centimeters—no debate.
Solano had warned,
Yet the crisis was scorned,
And now rescue may come far too late.

From Cape Town to Mexico City,
Jakarta’s tale isn’t pretty.
California’s in line
For a similar decline—
A dry fate that inspires no pity.

Mismanagement mixed with warm air,
Made a problem too heavy to bear.
They were told not to pump,
But they shrugged with a slump—
Now the land’s collapsed past repair.

So the capital heads to the coast,
Where Makran may soon play the host.
As Tehran’s folks stay,
They’ll find their own way,
On a land that is sinking the most.

[calimary]

47. "And now rescue may come far too late."

Absolutely Terrifying.

[tonekat]

57. NPR did a story on it last week

They said there were estimated to be 30,000 illegal wells in Tehran.