Tunisia’s Government Orders Water Saving Measures, Threatens Fines and Jail

Because of severely¹ dry conditions, Tunisia has ordered water to be rationed³ with little warning to the people there.

Water is to be cut off for seven hours a day from 9 o'clock in the evening to 4 o'clock in the morning in most areas of the country, including Tunis, the capital.

The order will last from April until September. Those who do not ration² water risk fines or jail time.

Households now need a supply of bottled water to wash, use toilets, and prepare meals during late night hours. Officials have also banned using drinking water on farms, green areas in cities, and for cleaning streets and cars.

Agriculture ministry⁴ spokesperson Raoudha Dridi said the order applies to all areas connected to the state-owned water system. Dridi added it does not include rural areas that do not get their water from the state system.

Water levels at almost all of Tunisia's dams have decreased. Some dams hold as little as 17 percent of possible storage.

"Currently, we have reached the red line, the danger line in terms of water scarcity⁵," said Aymen Hmem. Hmem is a member of an environmental group in the coastal⁶ town of Menzel Temime, which has a dam nearby.

Tunisia is mostly desert. Temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celsius⁷ in parts of the country.

The country is also facing an economic crisis. Political tensions last year delayed talks with the International Monetary⁸ Fund for a $1.8 billion loan agreement to help finance the government. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Tunisia is facing inflation of around 11 percent and food supplies are low.

The water rationing⁹ comes during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when people enjoy big meals after sunset and water use increases. Ramadan is nearly over, but summer and the start of tourist season, when foreign visitors come, will increase demand for water. Tunisia depends on tourism for income. The country of 12 million people has around 850 hotels. Many are near the coast of the Mediterranean¹⁰ Sea.

Ministry spokesperson Dridi said hotels and hospitals keep reserves of water that they fill during the day and use when water is not running.

The fine for washing cars or other banned uses is between 20 to 320 dollars. Those actions also risk prison time of between six days to nine months. Reports say those who illegally use water can have their supply cut off by the state-owned water company, Sonede.

Radhia Essamin is with a group called the Tunisian Water Observatory¹¹. She said the decision to cut the water supply was not surprising. But she said it should have been carried out differently, so that people could have prepared themselves.

"That is why we consider these measures incomplete. Before taking any measures, the citizens must be...made aware of the importance of water rationing," she said. "A booklet should have been published (explaining) water consumption, storage, timing¹² and the quantity allowed to be stored."

Abdelkader Hmissi lives outside Tunis. He said many people were caught by surprise by both the dry weather and measures to cut water use.

He was not.

Hmissi said he built a water tank two years ago, and now shares his supply.

"We found the solution in this tank. And my brothers and neighbors use it, too," Hmissi said.

Words in This Story

ration – v. to control the amount of (something, such as gasoline or food) that people are allowed to have especially when there is not enough of it

scarcity – n. a very small supply

tourism – n. the business of providing hotels, restaurants, or entertainment for people who are traveling

reserve – n. a supply of something that is stored so that it can be used at a later time

consumption –n. the use of something

quantity – n. an amount or number of something

allow – v. to permit

1 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

2 ration   

n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应

参考例句：

• The country cut the bread ration last year.那个国家去年削减面包配给量。
• We have to ration the water.我们必须限量用水。

3 rationed   

限量供应，配给供应( ration的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• We were rationed to two eggs a day. 每天配给我们两个鸡蛋。
• The army is well rationed. 部队给养良好。

4 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 scarcity   

n.缺乏，不足，萧条

参考例句：

• The scarcity of skilled workers is worrying the government.熟练工人的缺乏困扰着政府。
• The scarcity of fruit was caused by the drought.水果供不应求是由于干旱造成的。

6 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

7 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

8 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

9 rationing   

n.定量供应

参考例句：

• Wartime austerities included food rationing and shortage of fuel. 战时的艰苦包括食物配给和燃料短缺。
• Food rationing was abolished in that country long ago. 那个国家早就取消了粮食配给制。

10 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

11 observatory   

n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台

参考例句：

• Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
• Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。

12 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。