Extremism and non-entirety, the most critical challenge dealing with Qanats of Iran

Locating Iran in arid and semi arid region of the world, high rate of evaporation proportional to precipitation compared with global average, occurring recent drought that its issues are obvious in many part of the country; uncontrolled and irregular groundwater harvesting that has resulted in decreasing water table in most of Iran’s plain, increasing population growth and so on show that in our country, water resources limitation is the more critical rather than soil resources. In the other world, water resources limitation is considered as a significant prohibiting element for sustainable development, since a healthy environment and sustainable development and in general human life is not feasible without fresh water. Hence water would be one of the most basic resources for agriculture sector and as food security, and considered as sustainable development key in our country. Therefore, it must be accepted that water as a vital and precious elements needs to comprehensive planning and management from watershed to farmland. In fact all of us are required to optimize use of water resources since it would be as new water supply and appropriate planning will secure access to water in future. Among water harvesting methods, Qanat is the best and most reasonable one. Nowadays with regard to water harvesting trend in the form of several projects, surface water management, particularly watershed management and aquifer management, increasing probability of groundwater table and Qanats recharge while keep in mind that aquifers are renewable in contrast of other mine types and by considering the fact that constructing new Qanat is not feasible or cost effective and about 14% of agricultural products rely on water harvested through Qanats and 10% of total water harvested in agriculture sector provided through Qanats, with regard to historical, social, economical and cultural and even political aspects of Qanats renovation and rehabilitation of Qanats is perfectly logical and reasonable. In the present paper extremism and non-entirety has been considered as a main factor in failing most of soil and water projects including Qanats. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of water harvesting through Qanats and general activities performed in this regard, challenge encountered and operational approaches in order to compensate some parts of previous failures.

Keywords:

Qanats , entirety , management , watershed to farmlands , extremism