Part 10/15:
Cities like Isfahan and Tehran face imminent subsidence; the ground in Tehran has subsided more than 12 meters in two decades, damaging infrastructure and buildings, with some schools and hospitals already evacuated or condemned. The inefficient and over-extended water infrastructure leads to a 25-30% loss of municipal water due to leaks annually.
Geopolitical and Social Fallout
This environmental disaster intensifies existing ethnic and regional tensions. The southeastern Baloch regions and western Arab-populated provinces accuse the regime of favoring Persian-majority areas, diverting water away from minority communities. The near-total drying of Lake Herbia has fueled separatist sentiments among Kurds and Azeris.