Less water in the dams is due to decline in precipitation compared to last year and rise in consumption as spread of the coronavirus has compelled people to wash their hands and whatever they can wash several times a day to avoid getting infected with the virus, ISNA reported.
Since the beginning of the pandemic in Iran (in late February), water consumption in some cities has increased by up to 45%.
According to Iran Water Resources Management, 36.89 billion cubic meters of water is stored in dams across Iran, down 5% compared to this time last year when it was 38.073 bcm. Dams collectively can hold 50 billion cubic meters.
So far 73% of the dams are full. Last year this time the amount was 77%.
Since the beginning of the current water year (Sept 2019), the total volume of water inflow into reservoirs has been 51.041 billion cubic meters. In the same period last year it was 83.063 bcm.
Water outflow from dams so far is 42.095 bcm while it was 63.082 bcm in the whole of last year.
Following the coronavirus outbreak in Iran, water consumption increased dramatically in March and the Energy Ministry urged the people to reduce consumption and avoid waste.
Although heavy rains between February and April helped increase water levels in dams, soaring temperatures in the past few weeks (35°C and above) has fast pushed up consumption.
The concern is that water use will keep rising even after summertime as the Covid-19 pandemic spreads
Moreover, outbreak of the coronavirus and the need to adopt health and safety measures has made a bad situation worse.
Safety measures against the virus include cleaning hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds each time.
The novel coronavirus, which was first reported in China in December, has caused an outbreak of respiratory illness over the world.
The total number of people worldwide who have tested positive for the virus has exceeded 11.4 million with over 534,000 deaths.
Iran has confirmed about 238,000 infections with 11,500 deaths by Sunday noon.