Recent rainfall pushes fill rates of 22 dams higher in north

Water reserves of the 22 dams in the north, namely Jendouba, Béja, Kef, Siliana and Bizerte, reached on Monday around 592 million m3, i.e. 33% of their overall capacity following the latest rainfall. Water reserves at Barbara dam in Fernana, Jendouba, exceeded 101% (a total capacity of 60 million m3), while standing at 89% of the total capacity of Moula dam in Tabarka, i.e. 26 million m3, Regional Agricultural Development Commissioner in Jendouba Adel Sakkouhi told TAP on Monday. The fill rate of Bouhertma dam, a major hydraulic structure for irrigation (40 million m3), rose to over 36%. Béni Mtir dam (28 million m3), which provides drinking water, reported a fill rate of 47%, Sakkouhi added. The fill rates of Kassab dam in Balta Bouaouane (17%), El Kebir dam in Tabarka (26%), Oued Mellegue dam in Kef (12.2%) and Sidi Salem dam in Béja (31%) failed to match hoped-for averages, regional union of agriculure and fisheries trade union officials and farmers said. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse