Speaking to Tunisie Numérique, Water resources expert Hussein Rhaili stressed that despite the dams being 33 percent full, Tunisia stays below the water scarcity threshold, with an annual consumption rate of less than 400 cubic meters per citizen. This figure is especially concerning as the 33 percent capacity does not account for sediment accumulation, indicating the actual usable water content in the dams is estimated to be between 20 and 25 percent.
Rhaili remarked that the current water stored in dams could assist mitigate the effect of the summer season, provided there is a continued effort to preserve water resources, utilize them efficiently, and adhere to the strategy of periodic water shutoffs. This method hinges on the hope for improved climatic conditions and additional rain during the spring.
He also underscored that completing a dam filling rate of 40 to 45 percent is vital for guaranteeing the minimum water reserve. However, he admitted that the issue is fundamentally structural, necessitating solutions beyond merely awaiting rainfall. He advocated for alternative actions like desalination of seawater and the reuse of treated water, which could help set a sustainable water balance over the next five years.
In alignment with Rhaili’s observations, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, Abdel Moneim Belaati, confirmed that the dam filling rate across the Republic stands at 33 percent. This reinforces the necessity for immediate and innovative strategies to address the looming water scarcity crisis effectively.
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