A Sociological Examination of Water Governance in Lake Urmia Crisis: Grounded Theory Model

A serious examination of water and crises related indicates that the past issues arising in water management are rooted in hasty decisions, reliance on non-expert advice and a flawed policy. Lake Urmia crisis is a grave issue which incited many national and international sensitivities and response. To address the crisis, the present study takes a grounded-theory approach and in-depth interview with West Azerbaijan Regional Water and Waste Water Co. Ltd. expert-officials. Purposive sampling helped achieve data saturation by interviewing 6 interviewees. Results concluded several possible causes contributing to the Lake Urmia crisis: absolute absence of land use planning, lending little or no importance to social and environmental impact assessment, legal loopholes on responsibility, commitment, and duties of water stakeholders, and absence of a transparent coordination and administrative procedures among different organizations involved. Lack of education for stakeholders including those in agriculture, lack of alternative cropping system, lack of sustainable livelihoods and subsidies on water are major grounds for crisis, with climate change and illicit practice of deepwater drilling of recent years having played also a role. The crisis has dire consequences for the region’s environment which includes but are not limited to severely shrinking plant and animal ecosystems and declining human habitats in present and the future. The study recommends strategies to prevent and alleviate the effects of crisis: introducing changes into cropping patterns, sealing illegal deepwater drilling wells, and a general policy on restricting public water use as reforms and interventions.