Sanitation and Wastewater Atlas of Africa

Water use, 2016 Algeria Percentage Water use, 2016 Algeria Percentage

Algeria

Water resources Algeria covers a total land area of 2,381,740 km 2 , of which 87 per cent is desert, 9 per cent is semi-arid and 4 per cent is coastline or mountain ranges (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [FAO] 2016). Average rainfall is 56 mm/year and droughts are common (African Ministers’ Council on Water [AMCOW] 2018). Surface run-off and groundwater recharge rates are low, and even during the rainy season, stream flow is not continuous, with internal rivers only flowing for 10–75 days a year (FAO 2016). Water availability is about 5,410 m 3 /year per person and the pressure on groundwater resources is 188 per cent (AMCOW 2018). Algeria is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. The aqueduct water stress for all sectors measured in 2010 was 3.04 and is projected to increase to 4.17 by 2040 (Luo et al. 2015). A score of 4.17 indicates that there is extremely high competition among water users relative to available surface-water resources. Water stress comes as a result of water scarcity andmay result in crop failure, food insecurity, water usage conflicts and a decline in service levels (AMCOW 2011).

Industry 6

Industry 6

Municipal

Agriculture

31

63

Municipal

Agriculture

31

63

Source: AMCOW 2018.

Algeria Algeria

Source: AMCOW 2018. Wat r availability Water availability

m 3 /person and year m 3 /person and year

Total renewable freshwater Total water withdrawal Internal renewable water sources of which are surface water Total renewable freshwater Total water withdrawal Internal renewable water sources of which are surface water

334 322 329 267 76.9% 61.9 188.0% 96.0% 334 322 329 267 76.9% 61.9 188.0% 96.0%

pressure on surface water pressure on surface water

of which are groundwater of which are groundwater

pressure on groundwater pressure on groundwater

Water stress Water stress

Algiers

Source: AMCOW 2018; FAO 2018. Source: AMCOW 2018; FAO 2018.

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SANITATION AND WASTEWATER ATLAS OF AFRICA