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A Special International Report
Prepared by
The Washington Times
Advertising Department - Published on July 2, 1999
[Home Page]
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Advertisers (1) Sonatrach,
An International Petroleum Group
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Algeria adopts new programs to solve water shortages Water should be one of the main concerns for Algeria's future. The problem does not seem to be so much a question of lack of resources but of management. Enormous reserves are under the Sahara which could last hundreds of years, but cities and towns regularly suffer from shortages of drinking water. Many areas have water supplies which only function one day in five - even Algiers itself has a water system which on average works on one day out of two. The problem has been aggravated by the succession of droughts which have plagued the country over the last century. Rachid Latreche, director-general of the Societe d'Etudes et de Realisations d'Ouvrages Civils et Hydrauliques, a company which specializes in the study of water resources, says that it is important to encourage American businessmen specialized in the water supply sector to bring their technology to Algeria. The company says that Algeria has a water potential of 19 billion cubic meters, including 12 billion cu M of surface water and 7 billion cu M of underground water supplies (5 billion cu M of which are in the South under the Sahara). However, some 80 percent of Algeria's land surface is in desert zones where rainfall is practically zero and only in the north can surface water be used. There are 44 big dams with reservoirs which give a total capacity of 4,113 million cu M, and 711 smaller dams which provide some 79 million cu M each year. There are also desalinated water and 600 million cu M of waste water which could be recuperated after treatment. Within the next ten years the provision of water, thanks to efforts made by the State, would double to 4 billion cu M a year, but be spread unequally through the regions. One of the big problems as far as drinking water is concerned is the state of the more than 20,000 kilometers of pipes used in the distribution network. Of the 1.2 billion cu M of water supplied each year some 40 percent leaks out to waste. Nearly all towns have inadequate and irregular water supplies. And ,in spite of heavy investment, there has been a disappointing increase in the area of agricultural land under irrigation. "If on an institutional and organizational scale the reforms being undertaken by the Algerian state can be carried out gradually, it is not the same thing for the mastery of management techniques and financial means," says the report prepared by Latreche. "Which is why a sustained intergovernmental cooperation, would enable any reforms which may be recommended to succeed, to create knowledge bases, to train experts and develop human resources capable of local level management of distribution and maintenance of drinking water networks and waste water treatment. "In spite of all the works carried out by the Algerian state there are practically no towns in the country which have uninterrupted water supplies and wate -born diseases are found here and there in certain urban centers which, however, have all the necessary infrastructures." There are only 49 sewage treatment plants in the country of which five were built in 1996, but presently another 11 are being constructed. "Unfortunately, " says the report, "after a preliminary diagnosis, nearly half the existing plants will have to be abandoned because of their broken-down state. Only 28 stations are worth rehabilitating." The report suggests several courses of action to ameliorate the country's water situation: that a complete survey should be carried out, that a transfer scheme should be set up for the north of the country, that 100 big reservoirs should be constructed as well as smaller ones on the Northern hills which could be used to irrigate certain plains in agricultural areas, that more wastewater treatment plants should be built for towns which disposed of their waste in the oueds - river beds - so that water could be recycled for irrigation and drinking water purposes. Once this has been achieved, the report calls for proceeding with sea water desalinization from the year 2020, to provide for the water needs of the northern part of the country. Latreche believes that it is urgent that partnerships be established with US industrialists to solve these problems and more specifically to set up factories in Algeria to produce iron pipes, water meters, flow meters, electrical material, electric pumps, generators and shock compensating equipment. |
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Table of Contents (1) His Excellency Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria (2) Country has resources and potential and is moving toward peace (3) History (4) Stability predictable for Algeria (5) Terrorism is costly - in lives and finances (7) Despite being free, press sometimes is silenced (8) Local bidders and foreign investors being courted (9) Despite previous problems, economic future is bright (10) Institutions (11) Director-General sees light as country comes out of tunnel (12) Housing shortage creates enormous market for homebuilders (13) Bureaucracy remains a major barrier to investment (14) Algeria is gateway to Africa (15) A country made for Tourism (16) A Rich Heritage in Arts and Crafts (17) Casbah's unique beauty to be restored (18) Algeria Facts (19) Privatization goes forward with progress, challenges (20) Country rich in resources, civilization, ambition (21) World renowned hotel carries proud past of history and wealth (22) Fight against terrorism has helped world (23) Banking reforms, foreign investment moving quickly (24) World Bank senses new optimism in Algeria (25) Algerian-American Chamber of Commerce meets to promote trade relations (26) Ministry of Labor promotes programs to reduce unemployment (27) Agriculture potential is tremendous, but investment is needed (28) Algeria adopts new programs to solve water shortages (29) Wine growing provides export income (30) Petroleum companies aware of potential says Sonatrach CEO (31) About Sonatrach (32) Bright future ahead for oil industry (33) Huge oil resources will last for many years (34) The place of small industry in the economy (35) Country's first Bourse to open soon (36) ONAB encourages investors to grasp potential in Algeria (37) The El-Aurassi Hotel plans to go public (38) Enad hopes to partner with leading detergent producers (39) ENGG strives to improve refining system and attract foreign investment (40) Agricultural Bank plans expansion (41) Vehicle manufacturer seeks further investment |
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