Institutional Origins of Crisis in Groundwater Resources Management in Iran

Unsustainable withdrawal of groundwater resources has resulted in increasing spread of economic, social and ecological consequences in Iran. Particularly, since the adoption of "Protection of groundwater resources of Iran Act" (passed in 1966), numerous policies and laws with the aim of protecting groundwater resources have been passed and enforced; however, the level of groundwater table has been continuously decreasing while the number of prohibited plains have been increasing. So, the question arises that where the problem is originated from; and despite nearly 50 years of policy-making, legislation and implementation, why are groundwater resources not protected, but the situation has been getting worse and worse. Relying on the premises of institutional theories, the present paper will address the context and features of water bodies based on three components of mental models, structures, and the system of benefit and power distribution. The results show that the components of institutional environment are inconsistent with the context of legality.