The Tunisian Water Observatory has called for an emergency investment program to renew drinking water and irrigation networks, reduce water leaks, and support the National Company for Water Exploitation and Distribution. This appeal comes amid ongoing pressure on water resources and declining efficiency of distribution networks. The observatory noted that despite improved water resources in dams during spring 2026, the efficiency of water distribution during the current summer has not improved, with continued disruptions and increased water leaks.
The observatory presented its findings at a seminar titled "What water reality after the 2026 summer?" held in Tunis. The seminar highlighted that the temporary improvement in dam water resources did not translate to efficient water distribution during the summer. The observatory's coordinator, Alaa Al-Marzouki, stated that the observatory's diagnosis was based on reliable sources, including reports from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Maritime Fisheries, as well as a recent World Bank report on Tunisia's water situation.
Al-Marzouki emphasized that Tunisia has reached a stage of "water stress," with the per capita share of water resources currently ranging between 380 and 430 cubic meters per year, down from around 500 cubic meters previously. He projected that this figure is expected to decline to approximately 200 cubic meters per year by 2050. The observatory also noted that the exploitation of groundwater has exceeded its renewable capacity, with an estimated annual extraction of 3,217 million cubic meters, compared to 2,412 million cubic meters of renewable resources.
The observatory reported that Tunisia has around 33,000 random wells that pump approximately 827 million cubic meters of water per year illegally, accounting for 26% of the country's total national extraction. Al-Marzouki pointed out that the recent improvement in dam water resources has not improved distribution efficiency during the summer, which has seen repeated disruptions in water supply. He also highlighted the pressure on water resources in coastal and northern regions due to tourism, as well as the limited capacity of the Medjerda-Cap Bon canal.
The observatory also noted that there are ongoing shortages in water supply in areas near dams due to malfunctions in water collection systems in the northwest, as well as repeated disruptions and delays in the full exploitation of seawater desalination plants in the center and south. According to the observatory, the physical loss of water in the networks of the National Company for Water Exploitation and Distribution reached 23% during the 2026 summer, while the loss of water in public irrigation networks was around 30%.
These findings come as the National Water Strategy aims to improve the efficiency of drinking water and irrigation networks and expand the use of treated wastewater by 2050. The strategy targets an 80% reuse of treated wastewater by 2050, up from 10% currently. The observatory urged the acceleration of the adoption of the Water Law and the activation of institutions responsible for preventing random well drilling.
The Tunisian Water Observatory's recommendations include supporting water collection systems, settling issues related to energy debts, and completing the legislative framework to increase the reuse of treated wastewater. The observatory's report was based on reliable sources, including reports from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Maritime Fisheries, as well as a recent World Bank report on Tunisia's water situation.
Key points
- Tunisia has reached a stage of "water stress" with a per capita share of water resources currently ranging between 380 and 430 cubic meters per year.
- The physical loss of water in the networks of the National Company for Water Exploitation and Distribution reached 23% during the 2026 summer.
- The National Water Strategy targets an 80% reuse of treated wastewater by 2050, up from 10% currently.
