Richard Foltz's Relationship To Water In Iran

The aridity of Iran’s climate and topography has influenced Iran’s historical and current relationship to water. Due to less than ideal conditions for agriculture, Persian Achaemenids began using an ancient irrigation system of tunnels called Qanats by the sixth century BC. These tunnels stretched underground past sedimentary rock to reach deep aquifers. The water would then rely on gravity to be filtered, passing through clay filters lining the tunnels. Cultural historian Richard Foltz argues that early Iranian civilization recognized the importance of conservation and sustainable development through ethical systems of water usage. Foltz attributes Zoroastrian teachings in the Avesta as representing the respectful relationship early Persians

Since the natural sedimentary water table determined the water flow, the risk of overexploitation of the water source proved minimal. Qanats provided a such reliable and sustainable source of water for arid regions of Iran that political leaders were evaluated based on the number of qanats they constructed during their reign. To accomplish this, Achaemenid and Sassanian kings used slaves, captives, and forced labor sources. Furthermore, the Achaemenid Empire encouraged their subjects to build qanats by allowing qanat builders to retain profit from the tunnels for five generations. Later, qanat technology spread beyond the Iranian plateau to reach the Mediterranean, parts of Egypt, Arabia, and central Asia. The diffusion of Islam spurred continued spread of qanat technology into regions of North Africa, Spain, and

Though qanats remain, environmental damage to aquifers from modern irrigation technologies and natural disasters, like earthquakes, has affected productivity. To maintain their livelihoods, farmers must utilize recent technology, even if it contributes to a cycle of environmental degradation. Indicators of Iran’s water crisis are evident through recurrent drought, decline in groundwater sources and water quality, land subsidence, desertification of rivers and lakes, and soil erosion. Most notably, an important cultural landmark, the Zayanderud River in Isfahan (also called the River of Life) has undergone the process of drying out. The construction of a dam has contributed significantly to this process, siphoning the river’s water supply elsewhere. Interviews with Isfahan reveal their awareness of environmental damage to the river but demonstrate a perhaps inadequate understanding of the extent of Iran’s water scarcity. As the interviewee was asked his perspective, the individual proceeded to unnecessarily spray water to clean dust on the streets. This could be due to a disconnect between understanding of water scarcity and the environmental processes evident. The rise of environmental groups in Iran seeks to address this issue by bringing awareness and encouraging citizens to be active in bringing about societal