The water situation in Tunisia is critical in every respect. With dam levels falling and water stress increasing, this resource is becoming scarcer by the day. While we tend, rightly or wrongly, to blame the casual and irresponsible behavior of citizens, the authorities also bear some responsibility.
Indeed, what has been described as an emergency is being dealt with at the highest levels of government.
Despite heavy rainfall in recent days and weeks, the water level remained very low at 22.3% on September 27. In the northern dams the level is 26.5%, in the central dams only 7.6% and in Cap-Bon only 3.7%.
The stock in the dams is estimated at 522.528 million m3, compared with an average of 664.667 million m3 over the last three years.
The Mellègue dam, with 56% of its capacity, is the only one with a filling rate above 50%, followed by Bouhertma and Sidi al Barrak with 32%.
The largest dam, Sidi Saad, is 16% full, followed by Sidi Salem at 17% and Bir Mchergua at 15%.
UTAP calls for dialogue
The technical committee for planning and prospecting in the water sector, part of the Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP), has called for dialogue between the organization and the Ministry of Agriculture as soon as possible in order to find urgent solutions to ensure better management of available water resources in a fair and equitable manner and to guarantee the sustainability of the agricultural sector in the face of climate change, as well as maintaining food security.
During a meeting on Wednesday, the committee examined the water situation and its negative impact on Tunisian agriculture following successive years of drought and the lack of alternatives to reduce the impact of climate change on production systems, UTAP said in a statement.
The commission considered that the high rate (50%) of irrigation water loss and the record decline in water reserves in dams due to waste and lack of maintenance were the main factors wasting water resources.
It also warned of the complexity of the administrative procedures involved in granting permission to drill wells once the technical procedures have been completed. This is one of the obstacles to sustainable agricultural production and the preservation of crops that cannot withstand water scarcity.
Major challenges
Needless to say, Tunisia’s arid and semi-arid climate and rapid population and economic growth pose major challenges to water management.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Tunisia is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, with water availability of less than 400 cubic meters per person per year, well below the water stress standard of 1,000 cubic meters per person per year.
Tunisia also faces water quality problems, with high levels of groundwater and surface water pollution. Natural water sources are often overexploited and depleted, reducing the quantity and quality of water available.
The government has introduced a number of policies and programs to improve water management, including the construction of dams and seawater desalination plants, the adoption of more efficient irrigation techniques and the promotion of sustainable water management practices. However, much remains to be done to ensure the efficient and sustainable use of water in Tunisia.
