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Iran’s run-off volume decreases by 55%

Business Materials 1 March 2015 19:06 (UTC +04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, March 1

By Umid Niayesh - Trend:

The volume of run-off in Iran stood at 11.05 billion cubic meters during the 5-month period of current crop year (Sept. 22, 2014 to Feb 20).

The figure indicates 16 percent fall compared to the 12.833 billion cubic meters of total run-off in the same period of preceding year.

The figure also indicates a 55 percent fall in comparison with the long-term average volume of the same period, Iran's Fars news agency reported March 1.

The average volume of the country's run-off during the 5- month period of last 47 years (long-term average) was 25.212 billion cubic meters.

The volume of run-offs in the catchments of Caspian Sea was 1.775 billion cubic meters during the period. The figure for Gulf was 6.745 billion, for Urmia Lake 577 million, for Markazi 1.434 billion, for Hamoun 84 million and for Sarakhs 435 million cubic meters in the 5-month period.

The figures indicate falls by 13, 14, 14, 10, 46 and 14 percent respectively compared to the same period of the preceding year.

In comparison with the long-term period the volume of run-off in the catchments of Caspian Sea indicates a fall by 57 percent.

The figure for Gulf is 55 percent, for Urmia Lake 38 percent, for Markazi 57 percent, for Hamoun 78 percent and for Sarakhs 49 percent decline compared to the long-term average volume of the same period.

Iran is located in an arid zone and the country faces a serious water shortage crisis.

Iran's total annual water consumption is approximately 93 billion cubic meters, out of which about 92 percent is used in agriculture (86 billion cubic meters), 6.6 percent in municipality (6.18 billion cubic meters), and 1.2 percent in industry (1.12 billion cubic meters), according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Up to 70 percent of water used in the agriculture sector is being wasted, Iranian officials say.

Follow the author on Twitter: @UmidNiayesh

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