By Trend
Iran plans to transfer water from Caspian Sea to solve its water
shortage problem, while the country's Department of Environment is
reviewing the studies to decide the volume of water transfer.
The Iranian Department of Environment is a governmental
organization, under the supervision of the president, that is
responsible for matters related to safeguarding the
environment.
"The necessary studies have been completed and the reports have
been submitted to the Department of Environment," Ali Moridi, head
of Department of Environment's soil and water office told Trend in
an interview.
"Regarding technical and environmental issues, the most
important is the volume of water that should be transferred. The
expert sessions discussed the amount of transferred water to be
used for drinking purposes and industrial needs," he said.
"The National Water and Wastewater Engineering Company of Iran
would decide how much of the water transfer would be allocated to
drinking water," Moridi said.
Speaking of water volume to be transferred for industrial use,
he said the issue is being discussed.
Referring to a report of the Department of Environment, he said
the report did not have the necessary supporting documents on
volume of water transfer for industry and the presumed costs to be
paid.
Referring to water transfer from the Persian Gulf, the official
said that no "convincing studies have been conducted" with regards
to this, and "only the assessment needs have been predicted so it
requires further studies".
Responding to the criticism over water transfer from Caspian Sea
to Semnan Province, he said that "the criticism over Caspian Sea
water transfer was related to volume of water, the presumable
volume is 7 cubic meters per second that would be 220 to 230
million cubic meters per year. The figure is equal to a small river
discharge in the north of Iran."
Moridi insisted that the volume of water transfer would not
affect the Caspian Sea water, since 90 percent of Caspian Sea water
is supplied from the rivers that originate from Russia and flow
through Iran side of the Sea.
"So, 7 cubic meters per second would not have an effect on the
Caspian Sea water volume," said the official.
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