Vulnerability of Sirjan Plain Due to Aquifer Over Abstraction

The ever-increasing pistachio gardening is considered as the main cause of overdraft and water-level decline in Sirjan plain. During the past several years, overdraft from the alluvial aquifer of this plain has led to water resource depletion, quality degradation, deepening the well, drying water resources, increase in energy consumption for water pumping, higher drought frequency, ground settlement, decrease in specific retention and drying some fields and gardens. Continuation of this trend during the next years, the level of the plain underground water will drop more, and besides discharging a great part of water with a desirable quality and quantity, the damages will also increase. Also, salt water intrusion from the west (Salt Flat) would threaten the natural ecosystems. Problems in public hygiene and welfare, crisis in agriculture and animal husbandry, unemployment, decrease in public income and the probable unrest and economic and social crises may result. Since the highest amounts of abstraction is for agriculture, training farmers for optimum water consumption and up-grading irrigation practices seem essential. Some other options such as decrease in drilling permits, conservation of ground waters, artificial recharge, proper agricultural practices, water treatment and recycling of sewages and effluents may decrease ground water abstraction rate and abate these forecasted consequences.