Gabes, a coastal city in southeastern Tunisia, has long battled the twin crises of water scarcity and flooding. Rising sea levels in the Mediterranean, fuelled by melting glaciers, threaten to exacerbate these challenges, placing immense strain on the city’s already overburdened water infrastructure. But thanks to the Water Operators’ Partnership, life in Gabes is changing for the better.
A City on the Brink
For decades, Gabes has faced severe water management issues. Aquifers, overexploited by industrial and municipal demand, are drying up. Meanwhile, a staggering 45 per cent of the city’s water is lost through leaks in an aging distribution network. Add to this the devastating floods caused by extreme weather events and the need for urgent action becomes clear.
Enter the Water Operators’ Partnership between MM Spa Milan, Tunisia’s national water utility SONEDE and the Municipality of Gabes. With funding from the European Union and support from UN-Habitat's Global Water Operators' Partnerships Alliance, the initiative focuses on improving water distribution, strengthening governance and enhancing flood resilience.
A Life Transformed
Afef, a mother of four, recalls the challenges her community faced before the intervention. “Water was always an issue,” she says. “Some days, there was none at all. Other times, the streets would flood after heavy rains, making it difficult to move around.”
Like many areas in Gabes, her neighbourhood struggled with inadequate drainage and frequent water shortages. The partnership’s investment in leak detection, digital mapping and sustainable urban drainage systems is helping tackle these issues.
“There is more reliability in our water supply now,” Afef notes. “And when it rains, the streets don’t flood as badly as before. It makes a difference in our daily lives.”
A Utility’s Perspective
For SONEDE, the partnership has brought significant improvements. Nizar Sarkhi, head of the Gabes office of SONEDE, highlights the progress: “With better tools and training, our ability to detect leaks has improved dramatically.”
Thanks to the partnership, SONEDE now uses advanced leak detection equipment, including noise loggers and geographic information system (GIS) mapping tools, allowing for more precise interventions. “We can identify leaks faster and with greater accuracy,” says Sarkhi. “This helps us conserve water, reduce losses, and enhance service quality for the people of Gabes. It’s a real step forward for everyone.”
Facing the Future
Beyond immediate infrastructure improvements, the Water Operators’ Partnership is also fostering long-term resilience. The initiative has trained over 50 SONEDE staff members, improved municipal governance, and engaged more than 250 citizens in water conservation workshops.
As the Mediterranean’s rising sea levels continue to threaten coastal cities, the work being done in Gabes serves as a model for climate adaptation. “This is just the beginning,” Sarkhi says. “With the right tools and partnerships, we can build a future where water is no longer a crisis, but a resource that sustains us all.”
For Afef and thousands like her, that future is already taking shape – one drop at a time.
