Practical implementation of the Sustainable Balanced Plain Model plan:

Khorasan razavi

Considering the vast scope of the project, the city of Khaf in Khorasan Razavi province was chosen as a pilot for the implementation of the Sustainable Balanced Plain Model for reasons that will be explained:

In the Khaf region, due to its dry and water-scarce nature and the existence of the Sanganeh mineral industries, both water and development are seen as essential needs. Over the years, the industry has met part of its water needs through various methods, including drilling new wells, transferring water, and extracting the maximum amount of available water. This has been done at the cost of lowering the groundwater table, creating intense conflicts between farmers and the industry, and causing environmental degradation. It is worth mentioning that the presence of industries in the region has led to significant job creation and wealth generation. However, from an environmental and water perspective, it has caused numerous tensions. In the Khaf plain, the groundwater level drops by about 100 centimeters annually, which is several times the global average. As a result, many farmers abandon farming or migrate, leading to various social and security issues. The condition of the groundwater resources, according to these figures, is critical. In terms of groundwater extraction, the Khaf plain has been classified as a critical and forbidden plain for many years.

Following the "Memorandum of Understanding with the Khorasan Razavi Regional Water Company regarding the establishment of a local water market in the Khaf, Zozan, Rashtkhvar, Kerat, and Taybad plains" in July 2021, the "Sustainable Balanced Plain Model" plan was implemented in Khaf with the help of the region's water user associations and local trustees, who are farmers. This made it possible to temporarily transfer the annual extractable water volume between users.

In the water rights bank and market in Khaf, applicants wishing to sell water shares (mainly agricultural water users in the region) can transfer a percentage of their water share to legitimate water buyers, provided they increase efficiency, reduce water consumption, and adhere to cropping patterns. Therefore, it is possible to easily meet the full or partial water share requirements of buyers in the mining areas of the region (even with the expected industrial development plans in the coming years) through the market.

It is also worth mentioning that all buyers wishing to participate in the market must meet the following standards:

• Their well must have a valid operating license from the Regional Water Company (Khaf County Water Resources Department).
• Their well must be equipped with an updated (calibrated) smart meter with the ability to cut off and read information from the smart card.
• They must have a purchase permit from the Regional Water Company (Khaf County Water Resources Department).

Qazvin

The Sustainable Balanced Plain Model in Qazvin province was implemented in June 2022 through a memorandum of understanding between the Qazvin Governor’s Office, the Qazvin Regional Water Company, and Rahrovan Sepehr Andisheh Company. According to this memorandum, Rahrovan Sepehr Andisheh Company began its role as the operator of the water rights bank and market in Qazvin with the following objectives:

• Providing mechanisms and methods in accordance with governing laws for the allocation of the annual charge to users in the form of a water rights bank.
• Improving the infrastructure for monitoring water consumption by users through the installation, operation, and upgrading of smart meters in the region.
• Creating the platform for the water rights market to allow for the temporary transfer of water from low-efficiency sectors to high-efficiency sectors, based on conditions set by the Regional Water Company for the parties involved.

Semnan

Given the positive results from the implementation of the "Sustainable Balanced Plain Model" in Khorasan Razavi and its initiation in Qazvin province, the Semnan Regional Water Company also aimed to address issues related to allocation, charging, and water consumption management in the plain. In an agreement signed in August 2022, the Semnan Water Company assigned the role of operator for the water rights bank and market to Rahrovan Sepehr Andisheh Company. In addition to the objectives mentioned above, this memorandum includes the goals of preventing over-extraction in the region and limiting water transactions to the market.

In February 2024, under a contract, the agency for implementing the Water Quota Bank, titled: "Operational Management and Utilization of Smart Water Meters in Semnan Province," was awarded to Poraab Company.

Alborz

In March 2025, under a contract, the agency for implementing the Water Quota Market, titled: "Updating Study Records, Preparing Conditions for Launching, and Operationalizing the Water Quota Market in the Hashtgerd Plain," was awarded to Zist Ab Poraab Company.