Tehran’s water emergency signals global urban crisis as climate change threatens megacities worldwide

Iran’s capital city of 10 million people is facing an unprecedented water crisis that could force the evacuation of one of the world’s largest urban centers. Tehran’s five major reservoirs are nearly depleted—one has completely dried up, while another sits below 8% capacity. The Karaj Dam, a critical water source, reportedly has only two weeks of drinking water remaining. President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that without immediate rainfall, the city may need to implement formal water rationing by late November, and evacuation could become necessary if conditions don’t improve.

The crisis stems from multiple converging factors: Iran is experiencing its driest and hottest autumn in nearly 60 years, with Tehran receiving zero rainfall since September. But the drought is just one piece of a complex puzzle that includes poor water management, international sanctions limiting access to advanced water technologies, and unsustainable agricultural practices that consume 90% of the country’s water supply. Water policy experts point to decades of misguided megaprojects—massive dams and water transfer schemes—that ignored basic ecological principles and created what analysts call “water bankruptcy.”

Tehran’s predicament serves as a stark warning for cities worldwide, particularly those in arid regions like California and the American Southwest. Cape Town and São Paulo have faced similar “Day Zero” scenarios where municipal water supplies nearly ran dry, though both were saved by timely rainfall. As climate change intensifies droughts globally, Tehran may be the first major capital to confront the reality that traditional water management strategies are no longer sufficient. The crisis highlights an urgent need for cities to invest in sustainable water infrastructure, implement economic incentives for conservation, and prepare for a future where water scarcity could reshape urban civilization itself.