Quick Implementation Recommendations (to start within the next 3 months)
- Select 2 pilot sites concurrently:
- Pilot 1 (Perennial river region): The vast plain adjacent to the Karun or Dez River (due to more stable flow, access to infrastructure, and the critical need for aquifer recharge). Focus on infiltration basins or flood diversion techniques for storage and salinity control.
- Pilot 2 (Makran region rivers): A seasonal river or wadi in basins such as Minab, Sarbaz, or Bahukalat (due to flash floods). Focus on floodwater spreading and check dam techniques to harness flash floods for rapid recharge.
- Strengthen monitoring and data systems (immediate necessity):
- Collect and integrate all flow rate, water quality, and groundwater level data from the past 10 years from existing hydrometric and piezometric stations in the pilot basins.
- If data is insufficient, promptly install automated level/flow sensors at key river points and a water quality monitoring network (basic parameters, turbidity, TDS).
- Intensive baseline studies:
- Conduct a targeted hydrogeological and geophysical study in the pilot areas within 3 to 6 months.
- Develop a conceptual aquifer model as the core foundation for any MAR scheme. This model determines the design basis for recharge volume, location, and method.
11) Final Summary and Pragmatic Proposal
- Suitability and Necessity: The Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) strategy is a suitable and essential option for Iran due to its compatibility with hydroclimatic conditions (seasonal floods, vast aquifers), the crisis of land subsidence, and the need for strategic storage.
- Technical Flexibility: The diversity of MAR techniques (from infiltration basins and flood spreading to injection wells and water banking) allows for the selection of a tailored, site-specific method based on hydrogeological characteristics, water source, and objectives.
- Safe and Scientific Strategy: The key to success and risk mitigation is the implementation of scientific pilot projects equipped with precise monitoring systems before any large-scale rollout. This manages and controls potential risks of aquifer contamination, localized subsidence exacerbation, and negative impacts on downstream water rights.
- Final Recommendation: Establish a “Specialized MAR Task Force” comprising the Ministry of Energy, Geological Survey, universities, and the private sector to guide the pilots, develop national standards, and attract investment. Transitioning from “crisis management of water scarcity” to “active management of unconventional water storage and recovery” is achievable.
Respectfully and with hopes for sustainable water security,
Dr. Nader Salek
