While the problem is national in scope, Tehran, the sprawling capital city, often serves as the most visible and concerning example of the crisis's immediate impact. With a metropolitan population exceeding eight million, the demand for water in Tehran is immense and constantly growing, driven by rapid urbanization and development. The city's primary water sources—the reservoirs fed by mountain runoff—are now critically low, forcing authorities to implement measures like pressure reduction and warnings of potential rationing. This situation is fraught with social and political tension, as a failure to guarantee basic water security in the capital can quickly erode public trust and lead to widespread unrest, underscoring the severity of the infrastructure and resource management challenges facing the government.
