Battling Water Limits to Growth: Lessons from Water Trends in the Central Plateau of Iran

The Zayandeh-Rud River Basin in the central plateau of Iran continues to grapple with water shortages due a water-intensive development path made possible by primarily supply-oriented management approach battle limits growth. Despite inter-basin transfers and increasing groundwater supply, recurring associated tensions among stakeholders underscore key weaknesses current paradigm. There was an alarming trend depletion basin’s four main aquifers 1993–2016 period as indicated results Mann-Kendall3 (MK3) test Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA) volume. resources declined more than 6 BCM 2016 compared 2005 based on equivalent height (EWH) derived from monthly data (2002–2016) GRACE. extensive is unequivocal evidence reduced availability face growing basin-wide demand, necessitating saving all use sectors. Implementing integrated plan that accounts for evolving supply priorities, demand scarcity, institutional changes urgent step alleviate preempt future insecurity problems are bound occur if approaches delayed.