In 1370 (1991), along with the privatization process of various units under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy, the organization became a semi-governmental and self-governing complex, so called “Water Research Center”, which also began its activities in the fields of river, ocean and coast engineering.
Since then, restrictions those associated with the self-governmental system have emerged as an obstacle for conducting and developing the research activities, correspondents with the needs of the country’s water industry.
On the other hand, other centers were established in other parts of the country to meet some of the water research needs. After the establishment of the Water Research Headquarters in the form of the Research Deputy of the Water Resources Management Organization of Iran, the lack of a capable executive section to advance research in all aspects of the country’s water affairs became apparent. Therefore, in order to consolidate all water research activities in the country, the “Water Research Institute” were identified officially, after obtaining a final license from the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology in 1380 (2001) and has practically initiated its activities since 1381 (2002).
Water Research Institute, as the most specialized research organization in the field of water and wastewater industry, consists of two research department in Tehran and three national research centers in Tehran, Sari, and Shiraz. The institute provides its experts and specialists of the associated fields, with the appropriate conditions needed for reaching the experimental founding out of the theoretical concepts.