In Tunisia, citizens are facing increased drinking water prices as the country struggles with a persistent drought, now entering its fifth year. The government has announced a price hike of up to 16 percent for consuming households, particularly affecting those with higher water usage. Families using more than 40 cubic metres, almost 10 thousand six hundred gallons of water, will now see their bills rise by about 12 percent with the costs for more significant consumption and tourist facilities jumping by as much as 16 percent.
This decision follows earlier measures, including nighttime water cutoffs and restrictions on agricultural water use. Despite recent increases in rainfall, Tunisia’s water reservoirs remain critically low, only filled to 35 percent of their capacity. The country is turning to water desalination projects to combat the chronic water shortage.
