Introduction

In the climatic conditions and crises governing the central plateau of Iran, the provision of new and sustainable water resources has always been a focus.

Desalination and the use of brackish water is one of the methods of water supply that has been utilized by various countries for years. to the extent that some countries with hot and arid climates along the Persian Gulf coast utilize this source to significantly alter the climate of their geography.

 In our country, too, desalination and water transfer from the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea have been seriously proposed for ten years, and so far, some southern provinces have benefited from this water. However, the transfer of water to the central provinces still faces challenges such as the energy expenditure for pumping, the high cost of desalination and transfer, and environmental problems, such as those in the sea. The large-scale desalination and water transfer project to Isfahan Province was proposed in 2018 with the goal of providing sustainable water for Isfahan and the operational phase began in October 2022 to address many of the aforementioned concerns and transfer sea water as a sustainable and expandable source in the shortest time and at the least cost to Isfahan.

Isfahan Water Supply Company (IWASCO)

The Isfahan Water Supply Company (IWASCO) was established with the aim of providing the water needed for Isfahan province. After its establishment, IWASCO took on the responsibility of implementing the national project for desalination and water transfer from the Sea of Oman to Isfahan province. In this regard, the company swiftly and diligently recruited experienced and specialized human resources, entered into necessary contracts with consultants, contractors, investors, and equipment suppliers, and carried out the operational activities of one of the largest water intake, desalination, and 400 million cubic meters of water transfer projects from the southern sea through a 1100-kilometer transmission line with diameters of 2000 and 1600 millimeters to Isfahan province, commencing in August 2022.

Advantages of Implementing the Project for Water Supply and Transfer from the Sea of Oman to Isfahan Province:

• Establishing access for the province to a sustainable and scalable source, which will be essential in the event of aggravated drought conditions.
• An optimal project route with suitable hydraulics, resulting in a substantial acceleration of project execution.
• National commitment and the determination of the country’s officials to transfer seawater to Iran’s central plateau.
• The proactive execution structure of the project through the project company.
• Procurement of project resources from shareholders and local sources within the province.

Project Objectives

The purpose of this project is desalination and water transfer from the coasts of Sirik in Hormozgan province to the provinces of Kerman, Yazd, and Isfahan. The goal is to supply large industries and drinking water resources with a capacity of 70 million cubic meters per year in the first phase ، 200 million cubic meters per year in the second phase and 400 million cubic meters per year in the second Third phase. The main sections of the national project for desalination and water transfer from the coasts of Sirik in Hormozgan province extend to Mobarakeh Steel, Isfahan Iron Smelting, and Isfahan Refinery .

• desalination plant:
• Phase 1: Establishing a 70 million cubic meters per year desalination plant for early implementation.
• Phase 2: Adding two 70 million cubic meters per year desalination plants for completion.
• Phase 3: Introducing three 70 million cubic meters per year desalination plants.
• Power Plant:

      Constructing a power plant to support the freshwater desalination process and   establishing intermediate stations.

• Water Intake:

Building a water intake structure at the Sirik coast.

• Transmission line: Construction of a water transmission line from Sirik source to Isfahan province industries

The technical specifications of the plan to transfer 200 million cubic meters are as follows:

• Objective: water extraction and desalination and transfer of 200 million cubic meters of water from Sirik coast to Isfahan
• Water Intake capacity: 600 million cubic meters per year
• Desalination capacity: 200 million cubic meters per year
• Transmission line: 1100 km transmission line from Sirik to Sirjan
• Pumping height (meters): 3400 meters from Sirik to Kameshche reservoir in Isfahan
• Number of balance tanks: 6 with a volume of 30,000 cubic meters
• Pumping stations and suction tanks: 15 chapters
• Pipe diameter: 2000 mm in the main line and 1600 mm in the branches

Planning, Engineering, and Phased Implementation of the Project

In the feasibility studies of this project, more than 20 routes and 160 hydraulic options for seawater transfer to Isfahan from the Persian Gulf coast to the Sea of Oman, passing through various provinces including Hormozgan, Bushehr, and Fars, were examined and evaluated. After completing the project studies and conducting environmental assessments, the top option was selected, involving water intake from the coast of the Sea of Oman in Hormozgan province and the transfer route through Kerman and Yazd provinces. This choice was made due to better water quality, a more suitable route, and the possibility of discharging brine into open waters.

Given the water crisis in Isfahan, an early-phase implementation was defined for the project. Completion of project studies and preparation of technical documents also took place during the spring and summer of 1401 (2022). Value engineering was applied to various components of the project in multiple stages. With the support of the thirteenth government and backing from the industries in Isfahan province, the project officially commenced in Mehr month of 1401 (2022) after obtaining necessary permits and coordination. The practical execution started in Isfahan province, and consecutive tenders were held. Immediately, the production of project pipes began, with the supply of steel sheets from Mobarakeh Steel Company in Isfahan. The pipe production work was contracted with eight major pipe manufacturing factories in the country and eleven coating factories, all progressing rapidly.

Phase 1 Specifications (Early-phase section)

➢ Objective: Transfer 70 million cubic meters of water from Sirjan to Isfahan.

• Transmission line: 780 kilometers from Sirjan to Isfahan with branches.

• Pipe Diameter: 1600-2000 millimeters from Sirjan to Isfahan with branches.
• Number of Equalization Tanks: 3 tanks with a volume of 30,000 cubic meters each.

• Pumping Stations and 30,000 cubic meters suction reservoirs in branches: 1 station with a pumping elevation of 280 meters

Complementary Phase 1 and phase 2 Specifications

➢ Objective: Desalination, and transfer of 200 million cubic meters of water from the Sirik coast to Isfahan.

• Water Intake Capacity: 600 million cubic meters per year.
• Desalination Capacity: 200 million cubic meters per year.
• Transmission line for Phase 1 Completion: 438 kilometers of transmission lines from Sirik to Sirjan.
• Pumping Elevation (meters): 3300 meters from Sirik to Isfahan.
• Number of Equalization Tanks: 5 tanks with a volume of 30,000 cubic meters each (4 tanks from Sirik to Sirjan, 1 additional tank for Phase 1 completion from Sirjan to Isfahan).
• Pumping Stations: 13 stations (9 stations from Sirik to Sirjan, 4 additional stations for Phase 1 completion from Sirjan to Isfahan).
• Pipe Diameter: 2000 millimeters

The second phase of the project from Sirik to Sirjan commenced in Mehr month of 1402 (2023) with the completion of feasibility studies, detailed design, liberation, obtaining permits, and preparation of tender documents. Winter of 1402 saw the tendering process, during which contractors were selected for the operational execution of the transmission line, pumping stations, water intake, and desalination plant.