Comparative analysis of water security in Kermanshah Province cities, Iran

ABSTRACT This study evaluates water security in the cities of Kermanshah Province, Iran, through the application of the water poverty index (WPI), incorporating five key components: resources, capacity, access, use, and environment. Data were sourced from official records and analyzed to generate WPI scores for each city. The results indicate that Kermanshah Province experiences medium to high levels of water poverty, with significant inter-city disparities. The WPI values ranged from 30.44 in Salas-e Babajani to 66.25 in Kermanshah, with an average provincial score of 43.84. Sahneh ranked highest in the ‘Resources’ component, due to its abundant groundwater and surface water, while Gilangharb and Salas-e Babajani reported the lowest scores, primarily due to unauthorized well extractions. In terms of access, Qasr-e Shirin achieved 99.92% coverage in safe water supply, whereas other cities, such as Javanrud and Salas-e Babajani, fell below 50%. Environmental conditions were generally favorable across the province, with the exception of Sarpol-e Zahab, where water quality was degraded by high pesticide and fertilizer use. These findings underscore the urgent need for tailored water management interventions to address the regional disparities in water security.