IKHLAS AL-HAMROUNI

TUNISIA_Under the current circumstances, water is no longer an isolated sectoral file as much as it has become a national security issue with food, energy, and climate extensions. In a country like Tunisia, where water security is measured by the number of water drops reaching every citizen, the paradox appears stark: a year par excellence rainy, and thirsty cities and homes without water.

Agricultural engineer and water resources expert Malika Mahmoudi spoke about this paradox, and provided our agency with a precise diagnosis of the water crisis in Tunisia, and drew a map of priorities for a new water policy, starting from a central conviction: the problem is not in the quantities of rain, but in the way it is managed, especially in light of accelerating climate changes, and regional wars and conflicts that cast their shadows over the region.

Malika Mahmoudi says that despite the abundance of rain and the rise in Tunisian dam reserves to between 60 and 65% during the year 2025–2026, several regions witnessed interruptions in drinking water. She believes that the water crisis in Tunisia is not linked to scarcity as much as it is linked to its mismanagement.

She confirms that the water crisis in Tunisia is fundamentally structural, as a result of the dilapidation of distribution networks, with the age of 20% of them exceeding 50 years, while the age of 80% ranges between 30 and 35 years. The percentage of lost water also rose from 25% in 2010 to 35% in 2021, according to the World Bank, which makes renewing the networks an urgent necessity.

She notes that the abundance of water resources this year, compared to previous years, did not prevent it from being described as "the year of thirst," due to the worsening structural problems. She also links the water crisis to the energy crisis, considering that pumping, distributing, and desalinating water requires large electricity consumption, confirming that "water security is contingent on energy security."

Water Wars Is an Exaggerated Term

Malika Mahmoudi explains that climate changes in Tunisia are manifested in long drought periods interspersed with heavy rains, which often turn into torrents that wash away fertile soil without contributing sufficiently to feeding groundwater tables. Based on the 2025–2026 agricultural season, whose rains were delayed before later improving, she calls for adopting a proactive approach that keeps pace with climate fluctuations.

She warned that the abundance of dam reserves does not guarantee the success of the agricultural season or the provision of drinking water, confirming that the renewal of groundwater tables requires long periods that may extend to hundreds of years.

Regarding the impact of wars and conflicts on water security in Tunisia and the region, Malika Mahmoudi believes that the term "water wars" is somewhat exaggerated, and prefers to talk about "disputes" and "impacts." But she acknowledges that these impacts have become tangible, as wars in the region and the Middle East are reflected in the cost of energy, and thus on the cost of pumping, distributing, and desalinating seawater.

She noted that Tunisia does not face international water disputes or diplomatic disagreements with Algeria and Libya, but it shares with them a groundwater table in the south, which requires enhancing cooperation and exchanging data. While Tunisia seeks to preserve these resources for future generations, neighboring countries are currently exploiting them, which imposes on it extreme caution.

From Water Mobilization to Its Productivity

Malika Mahmoudi considers Tunisia a pioneer in water mobilization, dam construction, and wastewater reuse, but she confirms the necessity of shifting toward improving water productivity and rationalizing its consumption, by limiting its loss in drinking and irrigation networks, and enhancing the responsibility of the government, the farmer, and the citizen in managing water demand instead of focusing on mobilizing new resources.

She confirms that the agricultural sector, which consumes more than 80% of water resources, is the most affected by climate changes, calling for adopting smart agriculture through modern irrigation techniques, humidity sensors, and digital applications. She also stresses the necessity of educating farmers about rationalizing water, planning irrigation and fertilization in advance, and choosing climate-appropriate crops, to preserve water resources and guarantee their sustainability for future generations.

Four Priorities for the Solution

Malika Mahmoudi reveals that groundwater exploitation in Tunisia has reached 133% of its regeneration capacity, which requires tightening oversight and holding those depleting it accountable, alongside educating citizens and farmers about the importance of preserving it. She also calls for expanding the use of treated water in irrigation, improving its quality, and enhancing rainwater harvesting to feed groundwater tables, protect soil, and reduce pressure on water resources.

She recalls that Tunisia is classified among the countries suffering from major problems in water security indicators, as the average per capita water consumption is less than 390 cubic meters per year, which is below the threshold of 500 cubic meters per person annually, which is considered a minimum for guaranteeing water security. She confirms that talking about water security is inseparable from food security, as climate changes affect not only water, but also the crop, soil, and agricultural inputs, in addition to wars and their repercussions on costs.

Malika Mahmoudi identified four priorities: "Demand must be managed instead of searching for new resources with the participation of the state, the farmer, and the citizen; renewing water infrastructure; improving networks whose useful life has ended and strict oversight of groundwater with activating legal accountability; and enhancing the use of used water and rainwater harvesting to reduce pressure on traditional resources."

She confirms at the end of her interview that water policy in Tunisia must link water management, energy, and food security, while giving priority to the good management of available resources and developing structures, considering that the crisis is not only about scarcity, but also about the ways of disposing of resources.