New Water Security Strategy Targets 100% Potable Coverage by 2050

Algeria has initiated a comprehensive national strategy to establish sustainable water security, responding to rapid climate change, increasing drought, and declining rainfall. This strategic approach aims to diversify water sources, enhance storage capacities, develop desalination facilities, and optimize wastewater reuse. According to agricultural and water expert Laala Boukhalfa, ensuring water security is a priority, equivalent in importance to food and energy security, directly supporting agricultural continuity and meeting citizen needs.

Central to this strategy is significant investment in infrastructure. The nation currently possesses 83 dams across its territory, providing an annual storage capacity of 7 to 8 billion cubic meters, which are vital for supplying drinking water and agricultural demands. Furthermore, Algeria has successfully completed 19 large-scale seawater desalination plants, each capable of producing 300,000 cubic meters of water daily. These facilities currently fulfill approximately 42% of the population's drinking water requirements, with six additional substantial desalination projects underway in western coastal regions, including Tlemcen, Mostaganem, and Chlef. Upon their completion, the national drinking water coverage from desalination is projected to reach 62%. The long-term objective is to achieve 100% potable water coverage by 2040-2050, with any surplus water directed towards the agricultural sector.

Beyond dams and desalination, Algeria is also harnessing other critical water resources. The country has substantially expanded its wastewater treatment infrastructure, growing from fewer than 20 treatment stations previously to over 270 facilities nationwide. These treated waters are primarily allocated for agricultural use, followed by industrial applications, thereby providing an additional water supply and alleviating pressure on other resources. Additionally, Algeria is leveraging its substantial share of the shared groundwater basin with Libya and Tunisia, which holds an estimated 50 trillion cubic meters, with approximately 70% located within Algerian borders. This vast underground reserve, capable of providing water for over 5,000 years, is attracting both national and international investors for developing strategic desert agriculture, such as cereals, oilseeds, and sugar plants.

This multi-faceted approach, integrating diverse water sources including dams, desalination, treated wastewater, and groundwater, offers robust guarantees against the impacts of global warming and climate change. By reducing reliance solely on rainfall, Algeria ensures a consistent water supply for drinking, agriculture, and various other uses, even during periods of low precipitation. The ongoing construction of new dams, barriers, and water basins further underscores the state's commitment to fortifying its water independence and long-term environmental resilience.