94% of the cost of sanitation services is borne by families

Faced with a severe lack of funding for essential drinking water and sanitation services, the institutions responsible for these sectors have shifted the financial burden onto the population, as stated in a research paper on the water sector released on September 28, 2023. This paper was a collaborative effort between the Transnational Institute (TNI) and the Tunisian Water Observatory (OTE).

This situation was further corroborated by a 2019 World Bank report on drinking water and sanitation in Tunisia. The report revealed that a staggering 94% of the cost of sanitation services is shouldered by families, through sanitation fees incorporated into their drinking water bills, with the State covering only 6%.

Regarding drinking water expenditures, the same report highlighted that families are responsible for 75% of the total cost. It disclosed that in 2015, Tunisian families collectively spent approximately $671 million on drinking water and sanitation services, accounting for 1.5% of the national public expenditure for that year. This translated into an average annual cost per capita of around $66 in urban areas and $38 in rural areas.

In stark contrast to the rising individual expenses on drinking water and sanitation in Tunisia, public investment remained notably low, reaching only $17 per individual in 2017. This amount pales in comparison to investments in countries like Jordan ($55) and Lebanon ($102). This comparison is particularly relevant given the similarities in public water and sanitation policies implemented in these nations and in Tunisia, as concluded by the research paper.