Tunisia faces critical water shortages and mineral water hoarding

Tunisia is facing a severe water crisis, marked by a record number of supply interruptions in July. The Tunisian Water Observatory reported 608 reports of water shortages, the highest since the start of the year. The governorates of Nabeul, Monastir, Mahdia, Sousse, Sfax, and Medenine have been most heavily impacted.

The national water utility, Sonede, attributed the frequent cuts to aging infrastructure, citing faulty equipment and pipes dating back to the 1980s and 1990s, alongside financial deficits and governance issues.

Compounding the scarcity, authorities have uncovered significant hoarding of bottled mineral water. In Sousse, security forces seized over 63,000 liters of water hidden in warehouses and by wholesalers. In Nabeul, inspectors seized 8,832 bottles, some of which were found hidden in a construction materials depot. Regional commerce officials stated these stocks were likely being withheld to create artificial shortages and drive up prices through speculation during the high-demand summer heat.