Tlemcen conference addresses pollution at Bougherara Dam

The contamination of the Hammam Bougherara dam in western Algeria was a key topic during an international symposium held in Tlemcen. Experts highlighted that the dam, essential for irrigation and drinking water, is heavily polluted with heavy metals, specifically cadmium, carried by the Mouilah wadi from the Moroccan side of the border. Participants urged the creation of a national monitoring network and advanced warning systems to protect shared basins. There is also potential for legal action at the international level to assert Algeria's rights. This environmental issue, which was warned against during the project's inception in the 1990s, has previously caused ecological damage downstream, affecting the Tafna River and the coastline near Rachgoun beach.