Hamadi Habib, Secretary of State to the Minister of Agriculture, Hydraulic Resources and Fisheries, in charge of water, said yesterday Thursday, April 3, 2025 that the network of pipes of the National Society for Operating and Distribution of Water (SONEDE) covers nearly 59,000 km.
He stressed that, taking into account the current financial means of the company, it is not possible to immediately rehabilitate the dilapidated infrastructure.
He said that a water study carried out with the perspective of 2050 provides for the renovation and renewal of around 1,000 km of pipes per year to reduce water leaks.
During a working meeting held this evening at the headquarters of the governorate of Sfax, in the presence of the local authorities and the CEO of SONEDE to examine the problems of the sector, Hamadi Habib noted several difficulties linked to the supply of drinking water in the region, in particular with regard to hydraulic associations and leaks on the network.
He explained that the commissioning of the seawater desalination factory in Gargour had led to an increase in pressure in the SONEDE network, thus causing numerous ruptures of pipes and water leaks.
He added that measures will be taken to solve these problems by ensuring real -time follow -up, thanks to an operational watch unit 24 hours a day within the SONEDE, responsible for treating citizens’ complaints and monitoring the state of water tanks.
