As part of the FAO-funded TEC-Water project, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, a pilot study was launched on the Kamech hill lake to evaluate the effectiveness of a safe and compliant monomolecular film to reduce water loss through evaporation.
The first experiment of its kind conducted in real conditions in Tunisia, this initiative is part of a rigorous scientific approach aimed at identifying innovative technologies capable of sustainably improving water supply in a context marked by the effects of climate change, the succession of droughts and increasing pressure on water resources, said an FAO statement published on Monday.
The study, conducted with the scientific support of the Water Research and Technology Center (CERTE) and national partner institutions, will make it possible to evaluate the technical, economic and environmental performance of this technology, while verifying its harmlessness on water quality, aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity.
« It is not simply a question of introducing a new technology, but of rigorously evaluating it in order to determine its relevance and conditions of application in the Tunisian context. This approach illustrates FAO’s commitment to support Tunisia with solutions based on science, innovation and technical cooperation, » said Nabil Assaf, FAO Coordinator for North Africa and Representative in Tunisia.
The launch of this study brings together the main national institutions concerned with water management, scientific research, health, environment and higher education and weather, illustrating an integrated approach to the governance of water resources.
In his opening speech, the Minister of Agriculture recalled that « each cubic meter of water saved is an additional resource for our agriculture, our economy, our environment and future generations », stressing that the reduction of evaporation losses is now a national priority included in the Tunisian water strategy.
With a water resource mobilization rate exceeding 90% and a network of 37 large dams, 234 hill dams and 925 hill lakes, Tunisia is now focusing its efforts on improving the efficiency of these infrastructures.
Evaporation losses represent a major challenge in arid and semi-arid regions, where each volume of water preserved contributes directly to strengthening the resilience of territories, food security and adaptation to climate change.
According to the same source, daily losses through evaporation on the 37 dams reached the peak of 1.1 million cubic meters on July 12. Through the TEC-Water project, FAO provides its expertise to identify, adapt and validate innovative solutions that meet the specific needs of the country.
The results of this experiment will feed into the work of the national committee on evaporation reduction and will help guide future public policies in terms of integrated water resources management, in the service of more resilient agriculture and sustainable development.
