Salafi Water Reservoir of Evaz

Reservoirs were one of the most important water structures in ancient Iran. A reservoir was a place to store water and it was usually filled with aqueduct water, rainwater, or seasonal water to meet people’s need for water in rather dry areas that received less rain. The water reservoir was usually a large indoor pond or pool, usually built in desert areas. The Salafi Water Reservoir of Evaz is one of the reservoirs in Fars province, whose building is still standing.

Where is the Salafi Water Reservoir of Evaz Located?

As the name suggests, this water reservoir is the oldest reservoir in Evza County of the Fars Province, which is situated 340 km southeast of Shiraz and has a population of about 50 thousand people. Being located located in a plain between two mountains of the South Zagros Mountains, Evaz is 986 meters above sea level. The average annual temperature of this city is about 37 degrees Celsius and the average annual rainfall is 203 mm.

According to some historical evidence, the formation of this city dates back to the Sassanid era (224 to 651 AD). However, the new history of Evaz started after Afghans invaded Iran and the Safavid dynasty collapsed (1736 AD). During this period, the residents of various regions of Fars and southern Iran migrated to Evaz to be safe from the insecurity caused by the Afghans’ invasion of Iran.

The Salafi Water Reservoir of Evaz is located in the Mahmoudi neighborhood of this county and contains almost no water due to successive droughts and excessive extraction of underground water sources. The problem of shortage of drinking water supply in this city started about 100 years ago. Prior to the year 2007, the water running through the water pipeline of this county was salty and was used only for washing and watering trees. Even though, presently, the city’s water requirements are supplied from the Salman Farsi Dam, however, there is still a water supply problem and people of the area rely on water reservoirs, which are unfortunately about to dry up, to supply part of their water needs.

It seems that in the late 19th century, there existed certain structures to control and store surface water in Evaz, which together with reservoirs were sufficient to meet the needs of the population at that time. However, due to several reasons including repeated droughts, increase in the number of population, and the growth of urban needs in addition to agricultural needs, the water resources of this region have been under a lot of pressure.

The History of Salafi Water Reservoir of Evaz

In the past, when there were no urban water supply systems, reservoirs were the most important sources of water supply for cities like Evaz. The water reservoir of this was built in the Timurid era in the year 1486 AD. The founder of the construction of this reservoir was a person named Haj Mohammad Zeinal Shamsayan, at the time, when “Sultan Husayn Bayqara Mirza”, a descendant of Timur or Tamerlane, ruled over the region.

Certain restoration operations were carried out for this building in the year 2012 during which the canals transferring water to the reservoir were dredged and the flow of water entering the reservoir was improved. Moreover, the surrounding walls, the dome of the reservoir, and the internal building of the reservoir were also reconstructed.

Different Parts of Salafi Water Reservoir of Evaz

Like other reservoirs in Iran, this reservoir, too, consists of four main parts:

• The Main Storage Area: which is five meters deep and six meters in diameter and can store more than 140 cubic meters of water.

• The Staircase: in the middle of which there is a small pond called “Dastdareh” where the incoming water enters first to separate the mud and sediments it carries before entering the main storage area.

• The Section for Taking Water: called "Ti Takh" in the language of the local people, there is a stone called “dastandaz” (lit. bump) to prevent animals and humans from falling into the main storage area.

• The Water Outlet Section: which was made to let the excess water be released from this reservoir and to flow to other places.

Salafi Water Reservoir of Evaz was inscribed on the list of Iran’s national heritage in 1998.

As the name suggests, this water reservoir is the oldest reservoir in Evza County of the Fars Province, which is situated 340 km southeast of Shiraz and has a population of about 50 thousand people.