Speaking on the Arabic-language media “Echourouk”, the distribution director of the company SEAAL, Mohamed Boukhalfa, revealed that the company went through a very difficult period in 2021 due to the drought crisis, a significant drop in the level of dams, lack of abundant groundwater, and limited water desalination plants.
Mohamed Boukhalfa explained that the authorities then carried out three major underground water drilling operations and then small desalinated water stations, which made it possible to sufficiently secure the east of the capital, explaining that the SEAAL had adopted and activated an intelligent system of interconnection between the different areas of the capital, allowing water to be diverted from an area which has abundance to another which needs additional quantities, according to the same source.
He also pointed out that thanks to new desalination plants, groundwater and dams, it can be said that the crisis of 2021 is behind us, especially since SEAAL has, according to him, acquired a great deal of experience.
What will be the drinking water supply program in Algiers for Ramadan 2023?
Regarding the preparation for the month of Ramadan and the summer of 2023, the director of distribution said that the company has now slightly reduced the hours of supply in order to prepare well for the big dates, such as the Ramadan and summer, indicating that 60% daily supply and 40% every other day, and the supply will be reinforced during Ramadan and the coming summer.
Boukhalfa explained that the month of Ramadan is exceptional, so the distribution program will also be and studied according to the needs of the citizen in water, and the distribution program will be better than it is currently. As for the summer, 80% of the capital’s population will be supplied with water daily, and 20% every other day.
The same speaker commented: “The important thing is that the difficulties that existed before have been overcome, and even though the rainfall has diminished, SEAAL has the capacity to prepare a distribution program, especially given the presence of a system that monitors the situation throughout the capital in real time and signals any imbalances that may arise. »
Adding that for example: “in 2022, 17,000 leaks were repaired in Algiers, a large part of which were repaired using external handling companies, as part of the strategy of the former French partner, but currently all repair operations are carried out by the company’s 38 teams, whose sole mission is to repair leaks. »
Mohamed Boukhalfa challenges citizens on the need to rationalize water
In addition, the same speaker challenged the citizens on the need for a rational exploitation of water, because it is drinking water and it goes through stages to prepare it and transport it over hundreds of kilometers, while the real cost of a cubic meter is 100 dinars, while the citizen consumes it with 6 dinars, and the rest is borne by the state.
Regarding the general situation, Mohamed Boukhalfa revealed that statistics recorded by SEAAL indicate that the company received an average of 3,000 complaints per day regarding water distribution in 2021, and in 2022 the number decreased to an average of 450 complaints per day, but the program has also experienced stability and citizens are aware of the existence of a water crisis.
