Tunisia is a country facing increasingly severe water shortage problems as a result of population growth, rising living standards and accelerated urbanization. The considerable pressure exerted on the available resources and on the agricultural sector by these trends has led to a significant increase in water use and pollution loads.

The severe overexploitation of groundwater resources is a direct consequence of excessive abstraction for irrigation, while the limited acceptance of water reuse as a potential mitigating measure is a difficult obstacle to overcome. Emphasis needs to be placed on the promotion of wastewater reuse as an alternative water supply source, as well as to the conservation of water in agriculture through the provisions for incentives for less water-intensive crop selection and for the application of irrigation methods with improved efficiency.

During the first stages of stakeholder involvement in the INECO Project, a number of potential mitigation options were identified as relevant to the region and the problems faced, including:

• The introduction and strict enforcement of water abstraction permits, in order to curb uncontrolled abstractions;

• The introduction of voluntary programmes for water saving and/or reduction in groundwater use, specifically targeted to farmers;
• The widespread implementation of awareness campaigns to inform the public on the issues faced and to promote water conservation;
• The provision of pricing incentives to reduce groundwater use, in the form of imposing groundwater abstraction charges for both public and private boreholes;
• The decentralisation of groundwater management activities, and specifically the development of collective management schemes to empower local communities and enhance the sense of joint responsibility.

The suggested options were prioritized by the local stakeholders through questionnaires distributed in 2 meetings held by CITET in the Agricultural Department (CRDA) of Nabeul. In total, 64 stakeholders (technicians, farmers, hotel owners, agriculture development groups and citizens) participated and responded to the questionnaire. The prioritization results are presented in the spider chart below.  

Analysis of policy pathways for problem mitigation

The formulation of a policy proposal for mitigating groundwater overexploitation was undertaken through dedicated interviews, designed so as to allow elaboration on the implementation of proposed approaches. 36 persons were interviewed, representing major secondary stakeholders and affected user groups.

Results indicated support for a number of options including the regulation and control of groundwater abstractions, the promotion of water reuse, efficiency improvements in irrigation water use, and the strengthening of the overall socio-economic and institutional environment, with emphasis on the pricing of water services and the creation of cross-subsidies among different water users.

Strongest support/preference was shown for:

• Measures related to water saving, and particularly towards improving efficiency in irrigation, including the encouragement of different cropping choices by the Government, the provision of technical assistance to big water consumers for water saving, and the adoption of water saving standards for new irrigation areas.
• The mandatory connection of water users to collective systems that prevent individual abstractions and the application of volumetric charges to partially recover relevant costs.

• The involvement of the private sector in water management and water service provision, as a potential means to enhance the quality of provided water services.
• The upgrading of the organisational level, including the modernisation of management systems and the enhancement of command and control regulatory measures.  
• The promotion of public involvement and participation in water resources management, and the establishment of cooperative agreements among water users.
• The improvement of accessibility and relevance of available information.

Stakeholder recommendations identified through the INECO process could potentially significantly contribute to mitigating the deterioration of groundwater resources, particularly in the Cap-Bon region. Achieving this goal however requires that authorities commit to the implementation of the necessary changes, and that public participation and community management of resources are encouraged through capacity building initiatives and further empowerment of water user associations.

More information on final Case Study outcomes - The Tunisia Regional Publishable Report (3.32 MB)