For centuries, the qanat system has been central to Iran’s water management, especially in Khorasan Razavi Province, where ancestors engineered underground channels to transport water from mountains to arid plains using gravity. However, these ancient water systems are increasingly threatened by modern challenges, including overextraction, drought, and insufficient policy support, raising concerns about their survival and the broader implications for regional agriculture and livelihoods.

Qanats, which number approximately 41,000 across Iran, have historically supported agricultural and livestock communities by providing sustainable access to groundwater without the need for energy-intensive pumping. Yet, in recent decades, widespread drought and falling groundwater levels have severely diminished water availability, with many springs drying up entirely. Experts warn that the shift toward deep wells equipped with powerful pumps, combined with unrestricted drilling permits and declining rainfall, is undermining qanat flows and accelerating their abandonment.

Ali-Akbar Kharazmi, a qanat researcher, criticized the prevalent reliance on deep wells as a short-term economic fix. He emphasized that this approach—often unregulated and lacking scientific oversight—has led to the collapse of many qanat systems that historically maintained groundwater balance and ensured food security. Kharazmi highlighted that qanats such as Qasabeh Qanat of Gonabad and Baladeh Qanat of Ferdows are internationally recognized examples of this indigenous engineering heritage, yet these remain at risk due to inadequate maintenance and weakened enforcement of Iran’s qanat protection laws dating back to 1927.

The increased extraction of groundwater, along with the growth of industrial and agricultural activities near qanats, has caused noticeable drops in water levels, resulting in reduced farming output and threatening local economies. Kharazmi warned that continued neglect could jeopardize rural employment and intensify migration to cities. He urged greater government support for qanat maintenance, including financing to reduce repair costs and prevent deterioration, as well as stricter regulation to control the issuance of new well permits.

Kharazmi advocated for a comprehensive approach to restore qanat sustainability, involving legal reforms, enhanced public participation, watershed management, and upstream flood-control initiatives designed to replenish aquifers. He stressed the importance of integrating local communities and farmers in rehabilitation efforts and safeguarding qanat boundaries to halt further damage.

The historical significance of qanats is underscored by their role in the development of many Iranian cities, including Gonabad, Yazd, Kerman, and Neyshabur, where they provided reliable water supplies in harsh desert climates. Unlike mechanized wells, qanats operate without fossil fuels or electricity, offering a low-cost, sustainable water source critical for both drinking and irrigation.

Facing mounting environmental and economic pressures, Iran’s reliance on qanat systems highlights a broader tension between traditional water management techniques and modern extraction methods. Experts emphasize that protecting and revitalizing qanats could provide a pathway back to sustainable water use, securing agricultural productivity and the well-being of communities in the region.