Alireza Daneshi, Marzban Faramarzi, Soraya Yaghobi, Reza Omidipour, Aiding Kornejady,
Volume 30, Issue 3 (10-2026)
Excessive groundwater abstraction is a major environmental and economic challenge in Iran’s arid and semi-arid regions. This study examined farmers’ perceptions of groundwater over-abstraction and its perceived socioeconomic consequences in the Siminehroud catchment. Data from 373 questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U tests, and chi-square tests. Effect sizes were reported, and p-values were adjusted using the Benjamini–Hochberg procedure. Overall, 41.8% of respondents believed that groundwater over-abstraction was occurring in their locality. Respondents with this perception were younger (median 48.5 versus 53 years; p<0.001), and the proportion with this perception was lower among users of piped water conveyance than among users of traditional canals (24.2% versus 45.6%; p=0.001). Both associations remained significant after false-discovery-rate adjustment. The most frequently perceived consequences of groundwater-level decline were declining farm income, loss of irrigated land, changes in cropping patterns, and increased migration. The findings indicate that groundwater management in Siminehroud should incorporate aquifer monitoring, improved water conveyance, and social interventions tailored to users’ characteristics.
