Another success story which convinced participants of the importance of the WEFE Nexus approach during the Tunisian NEL Second Workshop on 8. March 2023 was the “Ksar Ghilane” drinking water supply project. Under the topic ’Better management of available water through the recovery of desalinated brackish water for irrigation’ Fethi Abdelli and the Institut des Regions Arides of Médenine (IRA) team visualized the #Nexus approach impact after one year of implementation. The goal of Prima Program Nexus-Ness project is adapt Nexus methodologies for fair and sustainable allocation of resource to face socio-environmental challenges in Wadi Jir (Tunisia).

Study area location: “Ksar Ghilane”, in the heart of the Tunisian desert dunes

The project’s objectives:
Guarantee the continuous supply of drinking water to the population of the #Sahara from a brackish water desalination plant from a deep borehole, using solar #energy

Operating State:

Water production
Potential (m3/year): 4200-4500
Average consumption: ~2537 
Operating day/year
Potential: 320-350
Average consumption: ~281

What concretely is the success story?

  • Despite the difficulties of climatic conditions, the project was implemented successfully by producing sufficient drinking water
  • Production water capacity is much higher than demand, ensuring continuity of water supply in case of changes in future demand
  • The project gave great satisfaction with the supply of drinking water to about 300 people and a few installations 
  • The water transformed the isolated village in the heart of the desert into an inhabited village