Iran Turns to Nanobubbles to Battle Water Shortages
WANA (Aug 05) – As water scarcity becomes one of Iran’s most pressing challenges, nanobubble technology has been introduced to more than 400 water treatment plants across the country, raising fresh hopes for mitigating the impacts of this crisis. The technology aims to improve water quality, reduce costs, and replace outdated and expensive purification methods.
According to the Nanotechnology Development Headquarters, seven knowledge-based companies active in the fields of water and the environment have so far launched more than 20 commercialized products. One of the most prominent examples is the work of Nanobubble Energy, which has installed nanobubble generators in dams and treatment plants nationwide.
Pilot projects show promising results. At the Talvar Dam in Hamedan, the use of this technology reduced ozone consumption to one-sixth of previous levels while eliminating problems of taste and odor in the water. Similar successes have been reported at the Saveh Dam, Tehran’s Gheytarieh treatment plant, and the Takestan wastewater facility — all of which have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as well as the national water and wastewater companies.
The key advantage of this technology lies in its high efficiency in disinfection and pollutant removal, using nanobubbles of oxygen or ozone. In addition to cutting operating and capital costs by up to 50 percent, it also reduces the risks associated with excessive chlorination, which can pose health threats to consumers.
Experts argue that widespread adoption of this technology could not only raise national water quality standards but also deliver annual economic savings worth hundreds of billions of tomans. However, several projects are still awaiting full-scale industrialization, and specialists stress that accelerating their implementation could play a crucial role in helping the country overcome its water crisis.
Iranian taxi drivers splash water on themselves to cool down during the heat surge in Tehran, Iran August 2, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
