Dams filled to 28.30% by July 13, 2024 (Ministry of Agriculture)

Tunis: Water reserves in all dams have reached 664.3 million m3 up to July 13, a drop of 175 million m3 compared with the same period last year, equivalent to a filling rate of 28.30%, Director General of Rural Engineering and Water Exploitation at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries Abdelhamid Mnajja said on Saturday.These reserves are also 255 million m3 lower than the average for the last three years, he added at a regular press conference held at the Ministry's headquarters.Water supplies to dams during the current season have totalled 647 million m3, down by 30 million m3 compared with last year, he added.The current situation of the dams is "critical" and requires reasonable management of resources, the official pointed out, adding that some major dams in the northern governorate, including those of Sejnane and Zayatin, are currently at very low levels.The reserves of other dams in the centre (Nabhana) and Cap Bon are also low which has required water transfer operations, he underlined.Faced with this alarming situation, Abdelhamid Mnajja underscored the need to rationalise water consumption while managing demand, calling for the use of low-cost taps, auditing operations in the tourist and industrial sectors, and the use of alternative solutions such as treated wastewater.As far as the agricultural sector is concerned, Manajja urged farmers to focus on crops that consume less water and to make the most of treated wastewater, while using brackish groundwater after desalination.With regard to the national plan to guarantee the supply of drinking water during the summer period in urban areas, the official mentioned that 33 deep wells had been dug, 17 of which had been fitted out and connected to the distribution channels, recalling the entry into service of the desalination plant at Ezzarat, in the governorate of Gabes, which has a daily production capacity of 50,000 m3.Efforts are under way to complete work on the Sfax desalination plant, which will supply 100,000 m3 per day, he said, specifying that it is due to enter service at the end of July.On the subject of water supply in rural areas, Abdelhamid Mnajja pointed out that 14 projects targeting 31,000 inhabitants have started operating, adding that the debts owed to STEG by the Agricultural Development Groups (GDA), estimated at TND 13.2 million had been settled.He also said that the ministry had set up a central task force at the Interior Ministry, as well as regional committees to prevent and remedy water cuts, and that a system would be set up to instantly monitor any disruptions to the distribution system.Moreover, efforts will also be stepped up to combat illegal drilling of wells, he said, pointing out that 38 offences have been recorded since June.Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse