Algerian protestors and police clash at protest over water shortages

An important event that happened in Algeria,2013 was that nineteen people were arrested in the Algerian Setif region when battles erupted between protesters and police officers during a demonstration against water shortages in the country which national media reported on Thursday the 4th of September in 2013. Around 300 protesters encircled the town hall in Bouselam on Wednesday to demand improved water supplies and the construction of a road to facilitate access to their village, which lies 300 kilometers east of the capital, the APS news agency said.

Clashes broke out when the security forces attempted to access the building by force, with 19 people arrested and placed in pre-trial custody.

Only 22% of urban residents in Algeria receive water 24 hours per day, 34% receive water only once per day, 24% every second day and 14% only every third day. So this shows that people have a reasonable reason for protesting.

Drinking water supply and sanitation in Algeria is characterized by achievements and challenges. Among the achievements, there is a big increase in the amount of drinking water supplied from reservoirs, long-distance water transfers, and desalination at a low price to consumers, thanks to the country's substantial oil and gas credits. These measures increased the central water supply despite a rapidly increasing population.

Another achievement is the transition from intermittent to continuous water supply in the capital Algiers in 2011, along with considerable improvements in wastewater treatment resulting in better water quality at beaches. These achievements were made possible through a public-private partnership with a private French water company. The number of wastewater treatment plants throughout the country increased rapidly from only 18 in 2000 to 113 in 2011, with 96 more under construction. However, there are also many challenges. One of them is poor service quality in many cities outside Algiers with 78% of urban residents suffering from seasonal water supply. Another challenge is the pollution of water resources. There has also been poor progress concerning reuse of treated water, a government priority in this dry country.

Despite its vast hydrocarbons wealth, much of Algeria suffers from poor housing and inadequate water supplies, often resulting in protests that sometimes degenerate into violence.