The water crisis in Tunisia

Problems

• Tunisians are on the front lines of a battle against an increasingly severe drought, now in its fifth year in the North African country, with the government issuing a sudden order to its population to ration their water usage.
  
  Tunisia's drought and water crisis—as in many other countries in the region and the world—is primarily attributed to artificial climate change and global warming. Abnormally high temperatures have caused dam water levels to decrease, down to 17% in some areas significantly. 
  
  Water levels have dropped in major dams such as the Sidi Salem dam in northwest Tunisia, which provides water to large parts of the country, including the capital, and water for irrigation.

• Causes of water crisis

  Climate change has reduced the rainfall and increased the temperature in the region. According to the World Resources Institute, Tunisia is among the 30 most water-stressed countries in the world. 
  
  The Mediterranean region has experienced blistering summers, mild winters, and relatively little rain in the past four years. It is estimated that temperatures across Tunisia will increase by up to 3.8°C by 2050, while rainfall will decrease by at least 4% over the same period. This will result in more droughts, floods, and desertification, affecting the availability and quality of water resources.
  
  Another cause of the water crisis in Tunisia is poor infrastructure, which leads to significant water losses and contamination. Due to low reservoir levels, the state water distribution company, Sonede, has already begun cutting mains water supplies every night between 9 pm and 4 am. 
  
  The reservoirs across the country are about 30% short of capacity. Moreover, leaks account for the loss of about 30% of the country’s water before it reaches a tap due to the aging and poorly maintained network of pipes. 
  
  Furthermore, poor enforcement of planning regulations since the 2011 revolution has allowed unsanctioned housing and lack of infrastructure in poorer districts to affect the availability and quality of water. Illegal wells and wastewater discharge have polluted the groundwater and surface water sources. 
  
  Households now need bottled water to wash, use toilets and prepare meals during late night hours. Authorities have also forbidden using potable water to irrigate farmlands, water green areas in cities, and clean streets and cars. 
  
  The extracted water is consumed by agriculture (80%), industry (5%), tourism (2%), and drinking and domestic use (the remaining 13%).
  
  The Ministry of Agriculture is the main player in managing water in Tunisia, primarily through the Société d’exploitation du canal et des adductions des eaux du nord (SECADE NORD), the Société nationale d’exploitation et de distribution des eaux (SONEDE), the Office national de l’assainissement (ONAS), and the Direction du génie rural et Groupe développement agricole.
  
  The water crisis adds to years of political instability since the Tunisian revolution and the recent takeover of power by President Kais Saied, along with an economic decline due to misgovernance, corruption, and other factors. This has aggravated the problems of ordinary Tunisians, whose income and spending power have drastically declined over the years.