Seawater Transfer and Sustainability challenges: Insights from Central Iran

The Seawater transfer to Central Iran illustrates the challenges of balancing between industrial development and natural resource management. This water transfer project addresses water scarcity by providing a new water source, supporting industries, and boosting regional GDP through short-term gains like job creation and socioeconomic development. However, they introduce new constraints as the region becomes dependent on transferred water, and competition for limited water resources intensifies between industry and agriculture. Over time, this can cause environmental degradation, such as soil and water pollution, and pose risks to food security and rural livelihoods. These challenges highlight the importance of managing such projects focusing on long-term sustainability and equitable resource allocation to avoid economic and social instability in both the donor and recipient regions. The study examines the water, energy, and carbon footprints of seawater transfer to industrial and domestic sectors in Central Iran, assessing its environmental, operational, and sustainability impacts. Results indicate significant spatial heterogeneity in resource efficiency among regions. Iron and steel industries demonstrate larger water footprints than copper industries, highlighting disparities in water efficiency. Energy and carbon footprints (EF and CF) align strongly, with Sarcheshmeh exhibiting the highest EF (515,084.63 kWh) and CF (13.22 kg CO₂ eq), while Dar Alu exhibits the lowest values, emphasizing its energy efficiency. Sustainability assessments reveal that Dar Alu (0.94) achieves high efficiency, reliability, and minimal vulnerability, underscoring their strong alignment with long-term operational goals. In contrast, Golgohar (0.63) and ChadorMalu (0.60) scored lowest, indicating substantial environmental and operational challenges. Relocating industrial units, such as Golgohar and Chadormalu, to coastal areas could reduce WF by up to 50% compared to seawater transfer, as industrial relocation minimizes the energy-intensive pumping processes over long distances. This study underscores the need for tailored strategies to enhance the efficiency of water transfer systems and mitigate environmental impacts. Relocation of iron and steel industries, optimization of water and energy use in Golgohar, and sustainable practices for regions like ChadorMalu are recommended to achieve balanced socio-economic and environmental outcomes in the water-scarce areas of Central Iran.