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Identification and analysis of indigenous knowledge and technologies of water distribution compatible with desert conditions (Case study: Semnan City)
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Ebrahim Yousefi Mobarhan *    , Masoumeh Pazoki , Habib Karimipour |
| Assistant Professor, Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management, Semnan Agriculture and Natural Resources Research & Education Center, AREEO, Semnan, Iran, Email: e.yousefi.m@gmail.com |
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Abstract: (263 Views) |
| In the arid and semi-arid regions of Iran, indigenous water management and distribution systems have played a fundamental role in sustaining life and establishing settlements. Semnan County, with its traditional and sophisticated water distribution system of the Golrodbār River, exemplifies this indigenous knowledge. This system, built on precise scheduling, local expertise, and simple yet effective engineering mechanisms, distributes water evenly through a diversion structure called “Pārā” and a series of barjoms (regulators), and then allocates it based on the shares of the city’s six reservoirs, via a network of nahr. The management of this system is conducted through social participation and specific roles such as Pārbān (water distributor), Ra’īs-e Rudkhāneh (river chief), Qānūndār (law enforcer), and Estakhrbān (reservoir keeper), each responsible for ensuring justice in distribution and reducing water loss. Alongside these administrative functions, physical elements such as reservoirs, canals, reed beds (nīzār), and garden paths (bāgh-rāh) have contributed to the development of a distinguished cultural landscape in the city. This research aims to identify and analyze indigenous knowledge and technologies of water distribution in Semnan, demonstrating that this traditional system is a successful model of human adaptation to water scarcity and desert environments, and can serve as an inspiration for modern approaches to sustainable water resource management. Moreover, analysis of the managerial and physical framework of this system reveals that its long-term sustainability has been founded upon the integration of traditional knowledge, collective community engagement, and intelligent adaptation to regional climatic limitations. The persistence of this system over multiple generations demonstrates its effectiveness in achieving equitable water allocation while maintaining a sustainable balance between water supply and demand. |
Article number: 4 |
| Keywords: Indigenous Knowledge of Water Distribution, Pārā Water Divider, Traditional Water Management System, Water‑Based Heritage, Water Cultural Landscape |
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Full-Text [PDF 2116 kb]
(16 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/05/5 | Revised: 2026/07/31 | Accepted: 2026/06/16 | ePublished ahead of print: 2026/06/26 | ePublished: 2026/07/30
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