2005 - 2006 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012

TUNISIA PART 2: COUNTRY ANALYSIS
Tunisia
Water provision
All households in urban areas are connected to the mains for potable water, along with an 85%
connection rate in rural areas in 2004, against 37% in 1987. The average household usage is 87L per
day. Distribution losses in 1993 were 34% (280 million m 3 of water distributed and 209 million m 3
billed for). There was a reduction in leakage of 28% in 1996. Deep boreholes account for 45% of
drinking water. Current groundwater resources are expected to be used up by 2010, but new sources
are being developed.
Sewerage and sewage treatment
Million m 3 per annum 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
Volume collected 125.0 133.8 146.0 153.3 155.0
Volume treated 114.0 123.0 135.0 148.0 150.0
Volume recovered 23.3 25.8 28.6 31.5 36.0
Access to improved water services
1994 2002 2006F 2010F
Overall
Access to water 84.7% 93.9% 96.4% 98.2%
Household access
Rural
70.1% 76.7% 77.3% 82.0%
Access to water 60.6% 83.2% 90.0% 95.0%
Household access 25.1% 35.1% 36.0% 45.0%
DT102.5 million was spent on sewerage and wastewater treatment in 2002, with DT585 million
budgeted for 2002-06 (10 th Plan), compared with DT392 million for 1997-01 and DT234 million for
1992-96. DT1,856 millions has been budgeted for water services during 2002-06, with DT758 spent
between 2002 and 2003.
Water resources
Million m 3 , 1996 Surface water Deep
underground
Groundwater
Resources
Usage
2,700 1,210 719
Irrigation 754 730 745
Drinking 200 165 0
Industry 0 85 0
Total 954 980 745
Sewerage and sewage treatment
Approximately 40% of households are connected to the sewerage network, with an urban connection
rate of 78%. 199 towns will be connected to the sewerage network by 2011, with current sanitation
plans for 160 towns. There are also plans to separate stormwater flows from sewage effluent in the
country’s earlier systems. Secondary treatment is being used wherever it is possible. There were 52
sewage treatment works in operation by 2000, treating 123 million m 3 of water (51% of the total
discharged) with plans to recover 200 million m 3 for irrigation and amenity gardens by 2010.
Sewage treatment development
Million m 3 pa Plants Capacity Treated
1995 48 135 111
1996 50 140 120
2001 66 175 155
2006 83 185 165
195 Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2005 – 2006