Water supply and sanitation in Tunisia

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Tunisia: Water and Sanitation
Data
Water coverage (broad definition)	93%[1]
Sanitation coverage (broad definition)	85%[1]
Continuity of supply in Tunis	24 hours out of 24 (average 2003)[2]
Connection to sewerage network	81.6% (2007)[3]
Annual volume of exploitable water (hm3)	4670 (2004)[4]
Share of household metering	n/a
Rate of mobilized Resources [hm3]	88% (2005)[5]
Annual investment in WSS	n/a
Share of tax-financing	n/a
Share of external financing	n/a
Institutions
Responsibility for police setting	For Water Resources and Supply : The Ministry of Agriculture and Hydraulic Resources For Sanitation: The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development
National water and sanitation company	For Water Supply : SONEDE[6] For Sanitation: ONAS
Rate for Unaccounted water	18.2% (2004)[2]
Sector law	Yes

Tunisia has achieved the highest access rates to water supply and sanitation services among the MENA countries through sound infrastructure policy. 96% of urban dwellers and 52% of the rural population already have access to improved sanitation. By the end of 2006, the access to safe drinking water became close to universal (approaching 100% in urban areas and 90% in rural areas)^[1]. Tunisia provides good quality drinking water throughout the year^[7].

Responsibility for the water supply systems in urban areas and large rural centres is assigned to the Sociéte Nationale d'Exploitation et de Distribution des Eaux (SONEDE), a national water supply authority that is an autonomous public entity under the Ministry of Agriculture. Planning, design and supervision of small and medium water supplies and irrigation works in the remaining rural areas are the responsibility of the Direction Générale du Génie Rurale (DGGR). Managing investment planning and implementation of projects are conducted by the Commisariats Régionaux au Développement Agricole (CRDAs).

In 1974, ONAS was established to manage the sanitation sector. Since 1993, ONAS got the status of a main operator for protection of water environment and combating pollution.

The rate of unaccounted for water is very impressive, being 18.2% in 2004^[2]

Contents 1 Access 2 Service quality 2.1 Continuity of supply 2.2 Drinking water quality 2.3 Sewer services 2.4 Wastewater treatment 3 Water resources 4 Water use 5 History and Recent Developpments 5.1 Evolution of water policy in Tunisia 5.2 Recent developments 6 Responsibility for water supply and sanitation 6.1 Policy and regulation 6.2 Guiding and Basic water laws 6.2.1 Policies, Projects and Key Points 6.3 Service provision 6.3.1 Water supply 6.3.2 Sanitation 7 Economic efficiency 7.1 Non-revenue water 8 Financial aspects 8.1 Tariffs 8.2 Cost recovery 8.3 Investment 8.4 Financing 9 External cooperation 9.1 African Development Bank 9.2 European Investment Bank 9.3 World Bank 10 References 11 External links

[edit] Access

Access to Water and Sanitation in TUNISIA (2004)[1]
		Urban (64% of the population)	Rural (36% of the population)	Total
Water[1]	Broad definition	99%	82%	93%
	House connections	94%	38%	74%
Sanitation[1]	Broad definition	96%	65%	85%
	Sewerage	75%	4%	49%

According to the Joint Monitoring Program by WHO and UNICEF, 93% of the Tunisian population had access to an improved source of water and 85% to adequate sanitation in 2004. Between 1990 and 2004, access to water increased from 81% to 93%, while the access to sanitation increased from 75% to 85% ^[1].

Tunisia has achieved the highest access rates to water supply and sanitation services among the MENA countries through sound infrastructure policy. 96% of urban dwellers and 52% of the rural population already have access to improved sanitation. By the end of 2006, access to safe drinking water has been expected to be close to universal (approaching 100% in urban areas and 90% in rural areas)^[1] .

According to the Tunisian Ministry of Development and International Cooperation, in 2006 92.6% of the population had access to drinking water in homes^[8] .

[edit] Service quality

[edit] Continuity of supply

Tunis, the capital of Tunisia is able to provide 24-hour water with a supply of 110 liters per capita and day ^[9].

The continuity of supply is very good with respect to regional standards as it ensures good quality water throughout the year and has the lowest percentage of non-revenue water in the region^[7].

[edit] Drinking water quality

Tunisia provides a good drinking water quality throughout the year^[7]. The quality of the water supplied by SONEDE and GBRE/ACI in rural areas varies according to local conditions^[10].

Drinking water quality is monitored from production to distribution from bacteriological and physico-chemical quality. The national water distribution utility (SONEDE) and the Ministry of Health undertake this monitoring^[7].

[edit] Sewer services

The rate of connection to sewerage network in Tunisian urban areas increased from 20.6% in 1975 to 35.9% in 1987, and further up to 81.6% in 2007^[3].

[edit] Wastewater treatment

Since 1960, Tunisia has engaged in studies of the re-use of wastewater. Currently, 7,000 hectares (17,000 acres), planted primarily with orchards and for livestock feed, use treated water for irrigation consistent with national law^[11].

The number of waste water treatment plants has gradually risen in the last decade and it is expected to reach 83 in 2006^[4]. Currently, 61 wastewater treatment plants are in operation with 9,650 km (6,000 mi) of wastewater network collecting 178 hm³ (million cubic metres) wastewater^[12]. The largest wastewater treatment plant is situated in Choutrana with a daily performance of 120,000 m^3[13].

[edit] Water resources

The annual total volume of exploitable water in Tunisia is about 4670 hm³, out of which about 57% (2700 hm³) is surface water and the remaining 43% (1970 hm³) groundwater^[4].

Tunisia is a water stressed country with per capita renewable water availability of 486 m³—well below the average of 1200 m³/capita for the Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA) region^[4]. Out of the available surface water resources of 2100 hm³, only about 1220 hm³ are expected to be captured for actual use. Eighteen existing dams, 21 projected dams and 235 hillside dams are expected to augment the available supply but rapid sedimentation of reservoirs will progressively reduce storage capacity and shorten life.

Excessive groundwater extraction in the coastal regions of Cap Bon, Soukra and Ariana has resulted in saline intrusion in many areas leading to groundwater being unsuitable for further regions. Only 50% of all water resources have salinity levels lower than 1500 mg/l and can be used without restriction. 84 % of all groundwater resources have salinity of more than 1500 mg/l, and 30 % of the shallow aquifers more than 4000 mg/l^[4].

Table 1 shows accessible (A) and available water (B) in Tunisia in hm³ per year for different time-horizons^[12][13]

Accessible and Available Water in Tunisia| [13]
	1990		2010		2020		2030
	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B
Large Dams	1340	871	1800	1170	1750	1138	1750	138
Hillside Dams and Lakes	65	59	100	50	70	35	50	45
Tubewells and springs	997	997	1250	1150	1250	1000	1250	1000
Open Wells	720	720	720	720	720	620	720	550
Reclaimed Water	120	120	200	200	290	290	340	340
Desalinated Water	7	7	10	10	24	24	49	49
Total	3249	2774	4080	3300	4104	3107	4159	3122

[edit] Water use

The consumption of water was estimated by more than 2400 hm³ in Tunisia in which year?^[5].

In 1996, 86 % of the water withdrawals were allocated to the agricultural sector^[14]. The water sector is also obliged to meet the increasing water demand for all urban and rural areas, the agriculture sector as well as for touristic and industrial needs. Through the management and development of water resources, the last decade 1990 -2000 has witnessed an increase in available water resources from 2.76 km³ in 1991 to 3.525 km³ in 2000. It is planned that the supply will reach 4.6 km³ by 2010. This will mainly be done by improving water saving, rationalizing water use and developing unconventional resources, including the use of treated sewage water^[15].

According to estimations for the year 2030 by the Ministry of Agriculture, the demand of water would be stabilized of 2700 hm³ per year, even if the supposed population of Tunisia in 2030 will be about 13 million people and given today's regular demand would result in a demand of 3100 hm³ water per year.

[edit] History and Recent Developpments

[edit] Evolution of water policy in Tunisia

The Water policy in Tunisia from the beginning of the second half of the 20th century until the 1970s contained the limited mobilization of the resources - with the construction of dams and reservoirs

From the beginning of the 1980s there was an enforcement of the dam policy and application of the Plans Directeurs des Eaux (Water Master Plan)^[16].

In 1990 the Decennial Strategy (1990-2000) for the Mobilization of Water Resources and the Maximum Mobilization Maximale of available Resources was set up. This strategy was devised and implemented in order to provide integrated control of potential water sources. The cost of this ten year strategy approached two billion US dollars^[11]. The following table shows the perspective concerning water resources in Tunisia:

Perspective Water Resources in Tunisia|[5]
Type of water resources	Potential resources [hm³]	Mobilizable resources [hm³]	Mobilized resources [hm³]|
			1990	1995	2000	2005	2010
Surface water	2700	2500	1179	1876	2200	2400	2500
Ground water	2140	2140	1576	1818	1860	1900	1940
Total	4840	4640	2755	3694	4060	4300	4440
Mobilization rate (%)			59	80	88	93	96

[edit] Recent developments

In 2003, the Ministry of Agriculture published the Water Master Plan for the water sector^[7] Two main strategic options were identified and implemented: the 10 years strategy of water resources mobilization (2001-2011) initiated for the 1st time in 1990, and the long-term strategy (2030).

[edit] Responsibility for water supply and sanitation

[edit] Policy and regulation

The Ministry of Agriculture and Hydraulic Resources sets policies concerning conventional water resources in Tunisia, while the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development governs sanitation, wastewater and environmental planning^[15]. Its hydraulic works section, the Diréction Générale des Grands Barrages et des Grands Travaux Hydrauliques (DGBGTH), is responsible for the construction of major water resources projects^[4].

[edit] Guiding and Basic water laws

Compared to other North African countries, Tunisia has developed and adopted numerous laws and plans regarding its water resources not only recently. Water Master Plans (WMP) exist already since 1970, when a first WMP was drafted for the Northern part of Tunisia, as this is the region containing most of the resources and related activities. The Centre and South successively followed, 1977 and 1983 respectively. The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources developed these Plans, which is also responsible for the implementation and allocation of water resources.

[edit] Policies, Projects and Key Points

The relatively high vulnerability of Tunisia’s water resources has led to numerous programmes and projects aiming at improving water use efficiency. The current status, major deficits and core strategies are well described in Tunisia’s country report on the water sector. Out of all relevant programs, the following national policies can be deduced^[17]:

a) The continuous development and mobilization of available water resources in order to reach a mobilization rate of 95%.

b) The integrated management of water resources, in particular the enhancement of transferring excess water volumes from rainy periods to seasons of drought.

c) Water saving and the control of demand across all sectors.

d) The further development of non-conventional water resources through expanding the use of treated wastewater in agriculture and desalinating brackish water for uses across all sectors.

e) The protection of water resources against pollution and over-exploitation.

In order to fulfill these policies, three major strategies have been put into place:

1. The Decennial Water Resources Mobilization Strategy (1990–2000): The major priority of this strategy is the increase of supply. The construction of more than 200 small and large dams and the drilling of more than 1000 deep groundwater wells have led to improvements of use of Tunisia's available water resources from 60% in 1990 to 87.5% in 2004. The total budget for the strategy was 2000 MTD (million Tunisian dinar) = 1678 million USD^[18]).

2. The complementary strategy (2001–2011): The strategy attempts to realize long-term objectives, in particular the sustainable balance of demand and available water resources. It partly consists of similar measures compared to the mobilization strategy, aiming at reaching a mobilization rate of 95%.

Furthermore, the strategy puts an emphasis on regulation measures between wet and dry years, water and soil conservation measures, and the recharge of aquifers. The decennial strategy is divided into two 5-year plans, the Xth development plan (2002–2006) and the XIth development plan (2007–2011).

3. The long-term strategy (until 2030): The long-term strategy mainly builds up on the Water Master Plans for the north, center and south of Tunisia described in section 2. The strategy consists of a high number of studies and research programs with the target to plan and manage water resources more efficiently on a long run.

[edit] Service provision

[edit] Water supply

The National Water Supply Authority in Tunisia (SONEDE) is responsible for the provision of water supply services in Tunisia. SONEDE is a public non-administrative entity placed under supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, and Hydraulic Resources (MAERH)^[19].

Planning and investment for the allocation of drinking water in rural areas is conduced by the Direction Générale du Genie Rurale (DGGR), which acts in the framework of the Ministry of Agriculture and user associations (Groupements d’interêt collectif (GIC))^[7].

The water sector in Tunisia has so far only seen very limited private participation. To date, private participation in the water sector is limited to a contracting programme. Despite a 1999 study on contracting, very few activities have been contracted out (security and cleaning). However, the government envisages financing a desalination plant planned for Jerba through a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT)^[7].

[edit] Sanitation

The Office National de l'Assainissement (ONAS),is responsible for the sanitation in cities, industrial and tourist zones. The mandate of the ONAS also includes protection of the environment. In 1974, ONAS has been established in order to manage the sanitation sector. Since 1993, ONAS got the status of a main operator for protection of water environment and combating pollution.

Missions of ONAS^[3]:

• Combating water pollution
• Planning and implementing of sanitation sector programs and integrated wastewater treatment & storm water disposal projects;
• Construction, operation and maintenance of facilities intended for the sanitation of towns assigned to ONAS by decree;
• Sale and distribution of sub-products such as treated wastewater and sludge

The Directorate of Rural Engineering is responsible for sanitation in rural zones not covered by ONAS, and the municipalities are responsible for collecting and disposing of solid waste as well as drainage systems for the flow of rainwater^[7].

[edit] Economic efficiency

In 2002,SONEDE had around 7038 employees, 5865 of which were permanent and 1173 occasional. The number of employees per 1000 connections is of the order of 4.1, constantly but slowly reducing: SONEDE can always do better in this respect, the ratio of the two water and sanitation (ONAS) services taken together is of the order of 10 employees per 1000 connections, well above international standards^[7].

The performance of ONAS similar good with respect to regional standards, but its effectiveness could be improved, because of its high ratio of employees per connection. The very good performance of Tunisia in sanitation can be explained by the relatively high recovery of costs. The current downward trend in the recovery of costs is thus worrying. Actions and decisions will have to be taken before a vicious circle sets in. In 2002, ONAS had 5500 employees, 4000 of which were permanent and 1500 occasional. The existence of 66 sewage treatment works in good working order is a remarkable and unique result for borrowers of the Bank in the region^[7].

[edit] Non-revenue water

Tunisia has a very impressive low rate of non-revenue water with 18.2% in 2004^[2]

[edit] Financial aspects

[edit] Tariffs

Based on a proposal by SONEDE and following approval by the board, the water tariff is ultimately approved by the government (Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Hydraulic Resources, and the Ministry of Finance), which has on occasions refused requests for tariff adjustments^[19].

Pricing for drinking water in Tunisia is similar to other countries in MENA Region. It contains a part of a fix contribution and a proportional part dependant on the consumption of water. In 2001, the tariffication of drinking water in Tunisia was composed as following^[7]:

Tariffication of drinking water in Tunisia[7]
Consumption in m³/3-month period	Tariff in DT per m³
0-20	0.135
21-40	0.215
41-70	0.43
71-150	0.65
more than 150	0.79

The exchange rate of the Tunisian Dinar to the US Dollar is 1.00 TND = $0.729968 US^[20] .

Regularly, SONEDE reviews the tariffs, taking inflation and contribution to investments into consideration. Sanitation fees are invoiced and collected by SONEDE, which corresponds to good international practices on the one hand, but on the other it makes it impossible for ONAS itself to improve the collection of the bills from its customer accounts^[7].

[edit] Cost recovery

SONEDE covers its operation and maintenance costs (and a small fraction of the investment costs) with its tariffs. The price of drinking water in Tunisia is uniform throughout the country and is not seen as an obstacle to development. Drinking water charges allow for the recovery of operating and maintenance costs as well as capital investments in hydraulic systems^[11].

[edit] Investment

Public Investments from the budget of the ministry of Agriculture and Hydraulic are composed as following[17]
	Public Investments [MTD]	Part of water sector [MTD]	Percentage Rate [%]
10th Plan (2002-2006)	1975.4	1252.1	63
11th Plan (2007-2011)	2887.9	1580.1	55

The investments of ONAS should go from 390 million TD in the 9th Plan to 525 million TD in the 10th Plan, i.e. an increase of 32%. Compared to the SONEDE investments in the water sector, investment in the sanitation sector remains higher. This is an important point as in the majority of other developing countries sanitation is neglected with respect to water supplies. The corollary is that sanitation prices are high with respect to regional standards, showing a sustained effort in the collection of costs which is absent in almost all other developing countries^[7].

[edit] Financing

Concerning the sector financing, the situation in Tunisia represent is shown in the figure below^[17] in MTD.

Financing of Water Sector in Tunisia| [17]
Financing Source	10th Plan		11th Plan
	Investments	%	Investments	%
National Budget	947	48	1300	45
External Loans	808	41	1300	45
Grants	150	8	200	7
Self-financing	70	3	28	3
Total	1975	100	2888	100

[edit] External cooperation

External partners have played a major role in the development of the water and sanitation sector in Tunisia. The French Development Agency AFD, the African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, the German development bank KfW and the World Bank are among Tunisia's major external partners in the water sector.

[edit] African Development Bank

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group Board of Directors approved a 22.91-million Euro loan to finance phase two of Tunisia’s Water Sector Investment Project (PISEAU II). PISEAU II is a component of the Tunisian Water Mobilization and Management Strategy 2002-2011, and a follow up to PISEAU I which lasted from 2002 to 2007. The main objective of PISEAU II is to promote efficient and integrated management of conventional water resources (including dams, catchment ponds, boreholes and surface wells) as well as non-conventional water sources (wastewater and brackish water) to meet the challenge of water scarcity in the country. Implementation of the project will begin in 2009 and cover a five-year period. The total project cost is € 122.01 million (TD 215.98 million). The project will be co-financed by the French Development Agency (AFD), the World Bank and the Tunisian Government ^[21].

[edit] European Investment Bank

In 2001 the European Investment Bank granted EUR 95 million to SONEDE to finance a set of three schemes to supply drinking water to the eastern coastal regions of Sahel and Sfax.^[22]

[edit] World Bank

In 2001 The World Bank initiated the multi-donor Water Sector Investment Project PISEAU I together with AFD and KfW.^[23][24]

In 2005, the World Bank approved a USD38 million loan to the National Public Water Supply Utility (SONEDE) for an urban water supply project. The project aims at sustaining the reliability and quality of water service in Greater Tunis and selected urban centers, through augmentation, upgrade and renewal of the water supply infrastructure. The project consists in the enhancement of the competitiveness and sustainability of SONEDE operations ^[25]. In 2006 it approved a loan to support the Tunis West Sewerage Project, which is expected to achieve the following objectives: (1) Improve the quality of sanitation services in Greater Tunis, and preserve the achievements of the sector; (2) promote the reuse of treated wastewater in irrigation on a sustainable basis and in significant quantities; and (3) enhance ONAS performance through financial and operational management capacity building.^[26]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• SONEDE (National Water Distribution Utility)
• ONAS (National Sanitation Office)

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