National Water Security

The World Water Issues.- Fifty years of water policies, 1960-2010.- The National Water Balance.- The holistic water balance:  Blue Water, Green Water and Virtual Water.- Managing water demand and unconventional resources.- Water Security in Tunisia: debated issues.- Conclusion.- References.

Mustapha Besbes is hydrogeologist, emeritus Professor at the National Engineering School of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar. He received the PhD in Hydrology (1967) and the Doctorat es sciences from the University Pierre & Marie Curie in Paris (1978). Pr Besbes was elected Foreign Member of the French Academy of sciences in 2009, and member of the Tunisian Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts in 2013. World leader in arid zone hydrology, he coordinated the NWSAS (North Western Sahara Aquifer System) modeling process in the 2000s. He has published books and articles in hydrogeology and water management. He is chairman, reviewer or associate editor of journals in hydrological sciences. Mustapha Besbes is member or head of numerous scientific commissions, councils, boards and task forces. 

Jamel Chahed is a hydraulics engineer and Doctor es sciences, Professor at the National Engineering School of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar.His work focuses on transfers in industrial and environmental fluid systems, atmospheric dispersion, water governance and water management. His research has appeared as articles, books, book chapters, conference acts in specialized literature such as hydrology, water resources management, hydraulics, turbulence and transfers, environmental engineering. He actively contributed to the development of long-term vision for water security with a thematic focus on holistic water balance assessment. He has been involved in number of national and international academic research and technical programs. As visiting professor, associate researcher or guest speaker he joined number of international research teams at academic institutes, research laboratories and R&D centres.


Abdelkader Hamdane is graduated from Institut National Agronomique de Paris (1971), and Ecole Nationale du Génie Rural, des Eaux et Forêts de Paris (1973). He is general engineer, formerly General Directorof

"This book is very clear and easy to read, with an abundance of figures and diagrams. It offers very important information on the planning of water resource developments in arid countries, considering all technical and social alternatives to 'classical' water management based on large infrastructures (dams, well-fields, desalination plants, wastewater treatment, etc.). ... I recommend this book to anyone interested in water and particularly to students learning about water resources and management." (Ghislain de Marsily, Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration, Vol. 4, 2019)