Citizens' Water Rights Drive Algerian Pollution Stance
Algeria has presented scientific and field evidence to support its demands for action against pollution affecting its water resources, impacting over 1.2 million citizens. The nation emphasizes its right to clean water and a safe environment, preparing a legal file for international bodies.
Algeria's warnings regarding pollution affecting Oued Mouilah and the Hamam Boughrara dam in Tlemcen are now supported by scientific data, technical documents, and field testimonies. This evidence confirms the severity of the environmental crisis and its direct implications for the water and health security of Algerians, a concern previously articulated by Interior and Local Authorities Minister Brahim Mourad. Algeria's proactive position is rooted in scientific facts and documented proof, aimed at safeguarding the well-being of over 1.2 million citizens and preserving regional ecological balance.
Laboratory analyses of water samples collected from Oued Mouilah, specifically at its entry point from Moroccan territory, have revealed alarming concentrations of heavy metals, pharmaceutical substances, nitrates, and ammonia, exceeding international standards by dozens of times. This environmental degradation has resulted in reduced dissolved oxygen levels and fish mortality, raising significant concerns for the safety of water within the Hamam Boughrara dam. The Algerian Press Agency (APS) has reported on these findings, alongside statements from Karim Arrabe, Director General of the National Observatory for Environment and Sustainable Development. These reports detail analyses and available information, including satellite imagery and technical maps that trace untreated industrial and wastewater flows from border regions into the wadi.
Further corroboration of these issues stems from within Morocco, where citizens and activists, particularly in the Taourirt region and Oujda area, have documented widespread pollution. This pollution is attributed to the indiscriminate discharge of industrial waste, olive oil mill residues, and untreated sewage into watercourses. Dzair Tube reports have also highlighted complaints from residents in the Sabbab area of Taourirt concerning the environmental damage resulting from these practices. In response, Algeria is compiling a comprehensive scientific and legal case for presentation to relevant international bodies addressing transboundary waters. This initiative seeks to halt pollution sources and mitigate their effects, adhering to the
