Distribution and Determining of Urban Sprawl in Kerman with Emphasis on Kariz Water System

Problem statement: Urban sprawl is one of the contemporary issues of cities all over the world. The Kariz system consists of underground channels that convey water from aquifers in highlands to the surface at lower levels by gravity. The problem of water shortage in arid and semi-arid regions is one of low rainfall and uneven distribution throughout the season, which makes rain fed agriculture a risky enterprise. The system supplies 75% of all the water used in that country, providing water not only for irrigation but also for house-hold consumption. Approach: This study explained and determined role Karizs in urban sprawl in Kerman. Results: Absence of planning for maintaining the Kariz s within the urban planning and their extinction have led to inclination toward other methods such as digging few deep wells during forth recent decades. Conclusion: A Kariz system has a profound influence on the lives of the water users. It allows those living in a desert environment adjacent to a mountain watershed to create a large oasis in an otherwise stark environment.