Tunisia-Dams in Tunisia: Annual loss of 22 million m³ due to poor maintenance

The annual report by the Department of Environmental and Climate Justice under the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) emphasises critical issues affecting environmental rights, climate change, and environmental, and social justice. It shows that dams in Tunisia lose around 22 million cubic meters of their storage capacity annually due to sediment accumulation and inadequate maintenance.

As a specific case, the report cites the Sidi el-Barraq dam, which has lost approximately 3.5 billion cubic meters of water to the sea from its inception in 2002 until 2016, according to data from the General Directorate of Dams and Water Works. This loss greatly impacts the availability of drinking water.

Further, the national company responsible for water exploitation and distribution faces a high rate of water wastage, estimated at over 24%, which can escalate to 30% in certain regions. This wastage is attributed to the ageing and decline of the water network, compounded by the accumulation of sediments. The situation is further exacerbated by illegal connections and water theft, accounting for up to 8% of additional losses. Altogether, these factors result in a loss of approximately one-third of Tunisia’s water resources.