Djerba, Tunisia- The looming water crisis threatens to exacerbate the Middle East’s and North Africa’s woes in a region already grappling with geopolitical challenges and economic disparities. The World Bank’s stark prediction that by 2030, this parched landscape will slip below the absolute water scarcity threshold of 500 cubic meters per person per year has sounded alarm bells. Tunisia, a North African nation, is emblematic of this predicament, where reservoirs have nearly run dry, prompting stringent water rationing lasting months. However, amidst this crisis, Tunisia is turning to advanced technology and strategic infrastructure to secure its water future, notably through desalination plants.
One shining example of this ambitious effort is the Jerba Seawater Desalination Plant on the Island of Djerba. Commissioned in 2018, this modern facility has become a lifeline for the island’s approximately 175,000 residents and a vital resource for the flourishing tourism industry. With features encompassing seawater intake and brine discharge systems, iron removal from well water, a drinking water pumping station, and extensive water lines installed to integrate with the existing water grid, the plant is a testament to Tunisia’s determination to address its water scarcity challenge.
Noura Fria, the Station Chief at the Jerba Seawater Plant, explains the plant’s significance, revealing that it supports the population’s daily consumption of purified water and offers an impressive desalination capacity. In addition to serving the island’s water needs, the plant maintains deep groundwater aquifers, ensuring water security for the region. The plant’s current capacity can be expanded further, potentially alleviating even more of the impending water shortage.
Yet, the technology that holds promise for addressing Tunisia’s water woes has also raised ecological concerns. Disposing salt and sludge from desalination processes into the Mediterranean Sea has raised alarms among environmentalists, fearing detrimental effects on marine ecosystems. However, Tunisian engineers counter this notion, asserting that their utilization of modern technologies minimizes the ecological impact. Noura Fria elucidates their approach, explaining that the extracted salt is carefully diffused into the sea at multiple locations, swiftly mixing with seawater. This methodology, designed to prevent abrupt changes in water salinity, has been verified through regular water analysis and examination by professional divers.
Tunisia’s comprehensive approach to the water crisis involves deep groundwater and seawater purification. The National Company of Water Exploitation and Distribution (SONEDE) is intensifying its initiatives to raise the count of deep groundwater purification plants from 15 to 22, alongside endeavours to set up six facilities for purifying seawater. This augmentation is anticipated to raise the nation’s overall capacity from 50,000 to 725,000 cubic meters, underscoring Tunisia’s unwavering dedication to water security.
Imed Ben Lili, the Central Director of Research at SONEDE, outlines the progress of this strategy, disclosing that ongoing construction in several cities, including Zarat, Gabes, Sfax, and Sousse, is poised to bolster Tunisia’s seawater desalination capacity significantly. The involvement of international partners, including Japan and the German Development Bank, underscores the collaborative nature of this endeavour. Japan’s investment in 12 similar projects, combined with the German Development Bank’s support in delivering water to interior cities, attests to the global recognition of Tunisia’s water crisis and the significance of its efforts.
Tunisia’s journey toward water security has been a multi-decade endeavour. The country’s first desalination plant, dating back to 1983, marked the inception of a pursuit that grew more urgent with time. In a nation grappling with its fourth year of drought, these plants are technological marvels and life-saving infrastructure. Tunisia’s 16 plants currently contribute 6% of its freshwater supplies, which may soon increase. As the country strives to meet 30% of its water needs by 2030, its commitment to innovative solutions and international collaboration stands as a beacon of hope amidst a challenging future.
In a region where water scarcity threatens stability and prosperity, Tunisia’s efforts are a testament to human ingenuity and determination. As the world watches this North African nation confronts its water crisis head-on, the success of its desalination strategy could serve as a blueprint for other water-stressed regions grappling with an uncertain future. In the face of adversity, Tunisia is showing that with vision, technology, and cooperation, a more sustainable water future is not just possible but essential.
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