General Direction of Water Resources (DGRE)

• Implements and manages monitoring networks for different aspects of the country’s water resources.
• Monitors surface and ground water exploitation.
• Elaborates on legislation regarding water resource exploitation and use.
• Compiles and updates the inventory of available water resources and compiles the national report on water resource use and exploitation.
• Collects data and maintains the national Geographical Information System Databases on water resources.
• Processes and validates all relevant hydro-geologic information pertaining to the different river basins of the country.
• Monitors the operation of hydrometric, piezometric and water quality monitoring stations.
• Coordinates, compiles and disseminates all reports on water resources.
• Updates and maintains the hydrological database.
• Coordinates and monitors hydrologic, hydrogeologic and other relevant assessments for surface water bodies in the country.
• Provides expertise and assistance to regional/local authorities for the management of all data related to water resources use and exploitation.
• Proposes appropriate principles and methods for water resources exploitation and management, according to the current supply and demand patterns.
• Promotes research on the exploitation of natural water resources.

General Direction of Rural engineering and water exploitation (DG/GREE)

• Prepares strategic plans, formulates policies and elaborates on projects related to rural engineering and water provision for the agriculture sector.
• Monitors and assesses projects related to the irrigated perimeters and agricultural sanitation. It also maintains infrastructure and hydraulic equipment, and proposes appropriate technical and economic solutions for those areas.
• Rationalizes water use, promotes non-conventional water use in agriculture, monitors institutional aspects for the formation of interest groups, and assesses and implements instruments for managing water demand in the agriculture sector.
• Coordinates rural infrastructure programs and assesses technical and economic aspects in agriculture industrialisation in order to encourage the modernisation of the agriculture sector.
• Coordinates, monitors and assesses the performance of potable water provision projects in rural zones.

General Direction of Dams and great hydraulic works (DG/BGTH)

• Prepares water resource assessments.
• Elaborates management plans on the exploitation of surface waters.
• Elaborates assessments on water resources exploitation.
• Prepares feasibility studies on infrastructure for surface water exploitation (i.e. large dams, conveyance networks, small dams), and is responsible for their construction.
• Maintains large dams.
• Is responsible for the construction of infrastructure for the protection of rural and agricultural zones from erosion.

National Company for Water Exploitation and Distribution (SONEDE)

• Provides potable water all over the national territory.
• Exploits, maintains and renews water abstraction, conveyance, treatment and water distribution facilities and networks.

At present, SONEDE is responsible for:

• The production, treatment and distribution of 317 million m³/yr of drinking water, through a conveyance network of 30000 km.
• Water distribution, operation and maintenance of networks and the provision of drinking water to 1.4 million customers.
• The preparation of feasibility studies for water works.

General Direction of Agricultural land Management and Conservation (DG/ACTA)

• Develops plans and guidelines for the conservation of natural resources (land, forestry, vegetation and water).
• Proposes and promotes measures towards the rational use of natural resources.
• Assesses land use.
• Performs soil and water analyses.
• Performs research in soil science.
• Controls land management.
• Ensures coordination between all institutions for issues related to land and water conservation.
• Elaborates plans on watershed management and erosion prevention.
  Controls and monitors land and water conservation programmes.
• Assesses land and water conservation management projects.
  Develops and promotes approaches for the conservation of natural resources and involves all operators in similar efforts to ensure their effective implementation.
• Manages, through its regional services, the construction of small reservoirs (capacity of 50.000 to 200.000 m³) and water table recharge infrastructure.
• Manages the protection of large dams from sedimentation and water conservation projects at the watershed level.

Rural Engineering, Water and Forestry National Research Institute (INRGREF)

• Promotes/performs research in natural and non conventional water resources with emphasis on:
  • Chemical, physical and microbiological analysis of water samples.
  • Irrigation water and irrigation methods
  • Wastewater treatment and reuse technologies
  • Water conservation
  • Regulation and quality standards for wastewater reuse in agriculture.

Regional Departments for Agriculture Development (CRDA)

• Assess water resources at the governorate level.
• Monitor water resource use and realises irrigation and potable water supply projects at the governorate level.
• Maintain and update the respective regional databases on water resource exploitation, use, water quality, availability and allocation, in line with the requirements of the National Information System. 

CRDAs are Regional Directions. There is one CRDA in each of the 24 governorates, and each of the General Directions indicated above is represented in the CRDA.

National Committee of Water (CNE)

• Acts as a consulting body on issues related to water management.

Commission of the Public Hydraulic Estate (CDPH)

• Acts as a consulting body on issues related to water resources.

Exploitation of Conveyance Networks of the North (SECADENORD)

• Manages all conveyance infrastructure (canals and pumping stations) along the Mejerda- cap bon and Jounine canals.
• Supplies water to major institutions such as SONEDE and CRDAs.

Surveillance Office of Hydraulic Resources (BIRH)

• Draws up the inventory related to the monitoring of water resources.
• Intervenes in the collection of fees from sand and water extraction from rivers performed in the framework of public water resources exploitation and the sale of positive boreholes.

National Sanitation Utility (ONAS)

ONAS is the major agency dealing with the protection of the water environment and pollution abatement, with the following aims:

• Eliminate water pollution sources in the areas falling under the ONAS jurisdiction.
• Manage, operate, maintain, rehabilitate and construct all facilities intended for the provision of sewerage and wastewater treatment services in the towns assigned to ONAS.
• Promote the distribution and re-sale of the by-products of wastewater treatment, such as treated wastewater and sludge.
• Plan and implement sanitation programmes.
• Plan and implement integrated projects related to the treatment of wastewater and the disposal of storm water.

ONAS manages a sewerage network of 12.771 km and 83 wastewater treatment plants. In urban areas the overall sewerage connection rate is estimated at 85,7%, whereas the volume of treated wastewater is equal to 201 million m³/yr.

National Agency for Environment Protection (ANPE)

• Participates in the elaboration of national strategies on pollution abatement and environmental protection.
• Acts for the prevention and mitigation of all forms of pollution and threats to the environment.
• Acts in favour of rational exploitation of natural resources for sustainable development.
• Approves investment projects aiming at pollution prevention/mitigation and environmental protection.
• Establishes regional offices in order to facilitate contact with citizens and industries and ensure control and monitoring of the state of the environment.
• Undertakes actions for raising awareness and promoting research in the field of pollution abatement and environmental protection.

Tunis International Centre for Environmental Technologies (CITET)

• Performs chemical, physical, microbiological analysis of water samples.
• Promotes wastewater reuse and improved wastewater treatment technologies.
• Provides training and promotes capacity building in the field of water, water pollution and environmental protection.
• Promotes know-how on desalination technologies.

Groups of Hydraulic Interest (GIH)

• Formulate proposals on the common use of water resources in its area of action (governorate).
• Express an opinion on management and water allocation projects in the governorate.
• Control owners and end-users associations

GIH are consulting agencies established in each governorate and operate under the authority of the Governor.

Agricultural Development Groups (GDAs)

• GDAs are mainly formed by farmers
• Jointly manages water resources. 
• Collects fees from water users
• Maintains water infrastructure and networks

Research centre for science of Water Technologies (CRTE)

• Elaborates and applies strategic plans and guidance documents related to the water sector in general.
• Maintains and operates laboratories dealing with geochemistry and physical chemistry.

Arid Region Institute of Mednine (IRA)

• Promotes water harvesting and water saving technologies in arid regions.
• Conducts experiments on water reuse for the irrigation of therapeutic and aromatic plants.