Water reuse in Tunisia: stakes and prospects

The article is written by B. Bahri published in 2002 in the Water Science and Technology journal.
It examines the challenges and opportunities of water reuse in Tunisia that is facing water
shortage problems due to population growth, rise in living standards, climate variability,
accelerated urbanization and environmental degradation.
To cope with this challenge, Tunisia has adopted a proactive and integrated water resources
management approach, which aims to optimize the use and allocation of water resources, and
to ensure their sustainability and quality. One of the key components of this approach is water
reuse, which is the use of treated wastewater for beneficial purposes, such as irrigation, aquifer
recharge, and environmental enhancement. Water reuse can provide multiple benefits, such as
reducing the pressure on freshwater resources, increasing the water supply reliability, improving
the water quality, saving energy, and creating economic and social opportunities.
The article also discusses the quality of the reclaimed water and the crops that are irrigated
with it. The Tunis-West project, which includes a new wastewater treatment plant and an
irrigation scheme covering 1,000 ha, is also mentioned. The article concludes by discussing the
need for a strategy to promote water reuse and the importance of strengthening the legal and
institutional framework for reclaimed water reuse.
The article provides information on the physical, chemical, and bacterial properties of reclaimed
water, as well as its effects on soil, crops, and groundwater. The main constraints related to
reclaimed water are salinity and microorganisms’ content. It also highlights the need for further
research to improve treatment processes and ensure the safety of reclaimed water for human
health and the environment. The article discusses the use of reclaimed water for agricultural
irrigation in Tunisia and the need for continued research and improvement in irrigation systems,
long-term effects on soil-plant-aquifer systems, risk assessment studies, decentralized
management of wastewater treatment, and evaluation of socio-economic feasibility.
The article presents some examples of water reuse projects in Tunisia, which illustrate the
diversity and potential of water reuse applications. These projects include: (1) irrigation of
crops, such as cereals, fodder, fruit trees, and vegetables, with different levels of water quality
and health protection measures; (2) irrigation of recreational facilities, such as golf courses,
parks, and hotels, with high-quality reclaimed water; (3) artificial recharge of aquifers, such as
the Korba aquifer, with reclaimed water to prevent saltwater intrusion and to increase the
groundwater storage; and (4) environmental enhancement, such as the creation of wetlands
and the restoration of natural habitats, with reclaimed water to conserve biodiversity and to
provide ecological services.
The article concludes that water reuse in Tunisia is a successful and promising strategy to
address the water scarcity and demand issues, but it also faces some challenges and limitations,
such as the need for more research and development, the need for more public awareness and
participation, the need for more cost recovery and financial incentives, and the need for more
regional and international cooperation.