Mellègue dam incident averted without impacting water reserves

Water reserves in Tunisia remain secure following an incident at the Mellègue dam where a valve malfunctioned. Faez Moslem, Director General of Dams and Large Hydraulic Works at the Ministry of Agriculture, confirmed that the released water was successfully contained and redirected, ensuring no impact on the dam's overall water supply.

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The incident occurred on June 17, 2026, after the completion of a water release operation for the Jendouba irrigated area. This operation involved a volume of 100,000 m³. During the closure of the valve used, it came off its axis.

The incident occurred on June 17, 2026, shortly after a routine, manually operated water release of 100,000 cubic meters for the Jendouba irrigated area. As the valve was being closed, it became dislodged from its axis. This resulted in an uncontrolled release of water, estimated at nearly 400 cubic meters per second.

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The maneuver concerned is a routine procedure performed manually by two agents. However, the loss of control over a particularly large flow, estimated at nearly 400 m³ per second, caused concern.

Emergency teams, including hydraulic resources officials, civil protection, and local authorities from Kef and Jendouba governorates, were immediately deployed. Their priority was to protect nearby residents, homes, roads, and livestock. The released water was channeled towards the Medjerda River and subsequently to the Sidi Salem dam without causing any damage.

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The valve concerned is an imposing structure weighing 70 tons, in service since the construction of the dam in 1954 and difficult to replace.

Moslem highlighted that the effective management of the situation was aided by the Medjerda Valley flood protection project, initiated in late 2025. This project has improved flow control in the region. The Mellègue dam, constructed in 1954, is the oldest in Tunisia. It is heavily silted, with nearly 80% of its capacity filled. It is scheduled to be replaced by the Mellègue Superior dam, a project launched in 2016.

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The entire quantity released was absorbed without causing damage. Initial inspections also confirmed the absence of structural damage to the dam.