Drinking Water Supply for Eid El-Adha, Summer: Reassurances from Minister of Hydraulics
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- In preparation for the upcoming Eid El-Adha holidays and the summer season, the Minister of Water Resources in Algeria, Taha Derbal, has provided reassurances about the availability of drinking water. During an interview on Echourouk TV, the Minister announced that water will be accessible daily, starting 72 hours before Eid El-Adha.
However, the Minister acknowledges the challenge of ensuring water supply for everyone simultaneously, considering the unique demands associated with this religious holiday and the increased water usage by households. To meet these demands, additional quantities of water will be injected into the system, while ensuring strict water management through special programming.
The same approach will be taken during the summer period, with a focus on improving the distribution of drinking water, especially in coastal towns. Despite the water stress experienced in the country and the region, the Minister of Water Resources assures the public that the situation is not worrisome.
The current filling rate of dams in Algeria stands at 38%, a significant improvement from the 30% recorded on May 1. Although the Minister does not provide detailed information about filling levels in different regions, it is evident that dams in the western part of the country have experienced lower filling compared to the east. Meanwhile, the central region has not seen significant benefits from recent rainfall.
While the Minister refrains from comparing the current filling levels with the previous year, it is worth noting that in March and April 2022, Algeria experienced substantial rainfall, resulting in an average national filling rate of 42%.
Regarding the supply of drinking water, the Minister highlights that desalination plants now contribute 18% of the overall drinking water supply in Algeria. He emphasizes the government’s commitment to securing drinking water resources for the population, primarily through the implementation of seawater desalination plants to compensate for water scarcity. Currently, these plants have a combined capacity of 821 million m3/year, and an additional five large stations capable of producing 300,000 m3/day each will be commissioned.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Energy and Mines plans to launch five new desalination stations in Oran, Boumerdès, Tipaza, Béjaïa, and El-Tarf by the end of 2024. These stations are expected to provide a daily supply of 1.5 million m3/day, which will account for 40% of the drinking water supply.
In the near future, six more desalination plants will be established in Tlemcen, Chlef, Mostaganem, Tizi Ouzou, Skikda, and Jijel, which will increase the coverage of drinking water supply to 60%. Collectively, these new desalination plants will significantly enhance Algeria’s drinking water production capacity, with a treatment capacity of 1.4 billion m3 of seawater.
The Minister also discusses the importance of large-scale water transfers from the south, where abundant underground water resources can be utilized to supply water to other regions. This strategy aims to mobilize additional resources for drinking water supply. Additionally, the Minister emphasizes the use of treated wastewater in agriculture, which consumes a substantial portion of the surface water supply. By 2026, an estimated 1.4 billion m3 of treated water will be utilized for irrigation purposes.
