Facing the worsening of water stress and the ongoing degradation of water resources, the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water is preparing to take a significant step. A new national strategy is being developed with a central objective: to sustainably protect resources intended for drinking water and to anticipate the risks threatening the country’s supply.
The assessment is widely shared. Due to the combined effects of climate change, over-exploitation, and multiple pressures—urban, agricultural, industrial, or accidental—underground aquifers and rivers are experiencing increasing fragility. The sources exploited by the ONEE are thus exposed to threats that challenge their sustainability, even as the demand for drinking water continues to rise.
In response to this situation, the Office has undertaken an extensive diagnostic effort in recent years. Ten comprehensive studies on resource protection have been conducted at the hydraulic basin level, allowing for the identification of the most vulnerable sources, the assessment of pollution risks, and the proposal of immediate protective measures. These analyses, based on the geological and hydrological specifics of each site, have resulted in a detailed mapping of critical areas.
It is on this basis that the ONEE is now building a national strategy for the protection of drinking water resources. This strategy will rely on a targeted and quantified action plan, adapted to territorial realities. The ambition is to strengthen planning, monitoring, and alert capacities while covering all mobilized resources: wells, springs, boreholes, dams, rivers, as well as unconventional resources, particularly coastal boreholes and desalinated water.
One of the pillars of this strategy will be the establishment of an interoperable digital database. This platform will compile all technical, environmental, and territorial information related to the exploited sources. It will incorporate data from the studies conducted as well as from the ONEE’s internal systems to monitor the characteristics of sources, their geological context, pollution histories, and vulnerability zones. Advanced analytical tools will enable the production of qualitative and predictive indicators, as well as risk simulations related to pollution or drought.
The action plan will be structured according to three time horizons—short, medium, and long term—with a hierarchy of sources based on their level of vulnerability. The mapping of catchment areas and potential pollution sources will serve as the basis for prioritizing interventions. A best practices management guide for sources will also be developed, informed by a comparative analysis of national and international experiences, in a logic of standardization and sustainable preservation.
Furthermore, the strategy includes the deployment of an intelligent monitoring system, based on real-time measurement equipment for the most sensitive sources. This device aims to quickly detect accidental pollution or extreme events such as floods. It will be complemented by a protocol for inter-institutional coordination involving basin agencies, local authorities, and economic actors, supported by dynamic dashboards and automated reports.
Finally, a training program will accompany the implementation of this strategy to ensure the capability enhancement of ONEE teams and the sustainable adoption of new tools.
Through this initiative, the Office expresses its commitment to anticipating forthcoming water challenges and placing the protection of drinking water resources at the heart of its strategic priorities, in a framework of modern, integrated, and proactive management.