Tunisia is the country in the Maghreb region that most suffers from water stress, a problem that is further exacerbated by a large disparity of availability between regions. The need to optimize the use of existing resources has led the country to opt for the principles of water management under the Water Resources Integrated Management approach. The result of these policies is remarkable as regards the supply of drinking water that has been secured for the whole national territory as well as at the level of urban sanitation.

An analysis of the current situation, organized by the SWIM-SM project and relating to wastewater strategies, revealed a number of weaknesses, namely:

• In rural areas, the development of sanitation is considerably lagging behind vis-à-vis urban areas.
• In the area of reuse of treated wastewater the current institutional and legal frameworks do not facilitate its development.
• The institutional responsibilities and mandates related to the fate of sewage sludge are not clear.
• The current level of treatment of Industrial discharges, is impeding wastewater reuse
• The rate of pollution charges paid by polluters is low and not conducive to a voluntary mechanism to improve the situation.
• The separation of tutelage ministries for the agency responsible for wastewater treatment (ONAS) and the one responsible for potable water supply SONEDE is hindering progress
• Potable water distribution and sanitation tariffs do not allow cost recovery.

In particular, the review shows that progress can be achieved in the following:

• The coverage of rural sanitation, through the development of a National Plan dealing with all relevant institutional and legal aspects, treatment for small and dispersed communities, appropriate technologies, sludge management and capacity building.
• Wastewater reuse through the development of a specific National Plan following a participatory approach and covering institutional and technical levels.
• The treatment of industrial waste through a strategy supporting clean production, the establishment of standards and the development of industrial zones grouping similar industries, awareness raising and self-control of discharge by industries.
• Pricing of services.
• Sludge recovery by developing the required institutional framework.
• The relationship between ONAS / SONEDE through the creation of an efficient coordination and communication mechanism.
• The administrative framework for water and sanitation, through decentralization, users participation, and an improved coordination between actors.

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