Water Ministry Launches Emergency Supply Plans

The Minister of Water Resources has outlined comprehensive emergency plans aimed at enhancing the supply of drinking water to Algerian municipalities experiencing scarcity. During a public session at the Council of the Nation, the Minister detailed his sector's commitment to finding practical solutions for communities facing water access challenges. These solutions involve connecting affected areas to neighboring municipal networks, drilling new wells, and establishing additional water stations to ensure reliable distribution.

Tangible progress is already underway, exemplified by an emergency project to supply the Beni Haoua district in Chlef province from the Kaf Eddir dam. This initiative, assigned to a specialized water sector institution, has reached a 65 percent completion rate. Further augmenting regional water access will be new facilities, including the Ténès and Beni Haoua stations, alongside the Sidi Yaâcoub dam. Additionally, a new 200,000 cubic meter capacity station, assigned to the Cosider group, is scheduled to commence construction shortly.

Efforts extend to addressing water shortages in Oum El Bouaghi province, particularly in Ain Beida municipality. Measures adopted include linking it with adjacent municipalities, constructing new wells, and developing both a water station and a reservoir. A significant program to rehabilitate water distribution channels is also in progress to eliminate leaks, which previously accounted for a 30 to 50 percent loss of potable water due to aging networks. Notably, 80 kilometers of the water network in Ain Beida have been rehabilitated, with another 61-kilometer project soon to begin. Furthermore, Ain Beida will receive an independent daily allocation of 20,000 cubic meters to streamline management and prevent overlap with neighboring provinces. The Minister also affirmed that addressing the accumulation of stones and weeds in wadi beds, such as the Chlef wadi in Mostaganem province, is a priority for his sector, with a large-scale clearing operation launched involving public and private institutions to ensure unobstructed water flow.