Since about 100 years ago, the size and population of Tehran have increased significantly
and water scarcity has caused some serious problems. Since 1941, owing to the shortages
of drinking water, plans have been made to use Tehran’s groundwater in reservoirs, Qanat
and rivers; then due to the pollution of these waters, new challenges were risen how to
access to the safe water. Following the outbreak of typhoid in Tehran, which caused the
contamination of drinking water in 1950, the task of water disinfection in Tehran was
given to Pasteur Institute of Iran. In collaboration with the Municipality of Tehran, the
surface water of the city was disinfected temporarily by changing the direction of some
parts of the Qanats, chlorination of Qanat waters and excavation of shallow wells.
Following this action, water treatment was set up in Tehran and then, the water supply
piping was carried out.
This article reviews the role of Pasteur Institute of Iran in disinfecting the drinking water
of Tehran and controlling the typhoid outbreak during 1950-1954