Investigation of in the Capita Water Consumption Variation in Iran Based on the Past Two-Deca Diet

In this study, the trend of agricultural water consumption was investigated for 22 years (1989-2011) in Iran, considering crop and livestock requirements per capita. Crop and livestock products were categorized into nine groups so that, each group has its particular subgroups. The results of this study showed that the trend of water consumption per capita was ascending over the proposed period with regard to the diet variations. Wheat in cereal crops and meat in livestock products had the largest water consumption values. The average capita water consumption was estimated about 1420 m3 during 1989-2011 which the maximum and minimum amount of water consumption corresponded to the year of 1389 and 2007, respectively. The volume of virtual water consumed by crops and livestock has been increased from 61 billion m3 in 1368 up to 120 billion m3 in 1390. The portion of imported virtual water through agricultural and livestocks products has been 11-27 billion m3 with an average of 17.6 billion m3 in the proposed period. Rainfed productions with average consumption of 17.3 billion m3 of water by rainfall provide a part of annual water consumption. Therefore, the portion of renewable water resources in agriculture was estimated to be varied from 63 (2008) to 81 (2011) billion m3. According to the water resources assessment indices, Iran was faced to water crisis during the proposed period in which population growth and diet changes may be effective.  Regulation of Proper diet such as reducing creal and meat consumption, establishing a dynamic market for selling agricultural products, recycling waste products, importing particular food products and increasing water productive could be effective in prevention of water management crises.