BY Dr. Hana Saada
Algeria has elevated the continuity of drinking water supply to a top national priority, with water ressources minister Lounès Bouzegza calling for full mobilisation of central and local resources to secure regular and sustainable provision.
Speaking in Souk Ahras during an inspection visit on Thursday, Mr Bouzegza said the sector is pursuing a policy anchored in water security, focused on optimising available resources and improving the performance of existing infrastructure. The approach, he added, relies on close field monitoring and rapid intervention to correct imbalances and maintain service continuity.
As part of immediate measures, the minister ordered an increase in water transfers from the Ain Dalia dam to Souk Ahras from 20,000 to 30,000 cubic metres per day, aiming to ease supply pressures ahead of the summer peak.
He also confirmed plans to connect the Oued Djedra dam to Ain Dalia, enabling the transfer of up to 40,000 cubic metres to the treatment plant to offset a daily deficit estimated at 28,000 cubic metres. Beyond supply, Mr Bouzegza stressed that the challenge lies equally in managing demand, citing losses of more than 40% due to leaks and illegal connections.
Souk Ahras relies on a network of dams—Oued Charef, Oued Djedra and Ain Dalia—alongside 367 reservoirs with combined capacity exceeding 127,000 cubic metres and 46 pumping stations producing 37,000 cubic metres per day.
During the visit, the minister also launched a 30km pipeline project linking the Ouldjet Mellègue dam, on the Tebessa-Souk Ahras border, to the Oued Kebrit phosphate plant, underscoring its economic importance and ordering faster execution. He inaugurated a 1,000 cubic metre reservoir in Ain Senour and urged officials to accelerate ongoing works to ensure delivery before summer 2026.
The measures reflect a shift from capacity expansion alone to tighter system management—where efficiency gains may prove as critical as new supply.
— 𝐄𝐍𝐃 —
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