Residents’ Responses to Water Shortages in Algeria’s AADL Housing: Implications for Environmental ,Architectural, and Social Resilience”

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of informal water-storage practices in AADL housing developments in Algeria, where residents install large-capacity water tanks on rooftops, balconies, stairways, and entrances to cope with recurrent water shortages. The research aims to evaluate the structural, architectural, and social implications of these unauthorized interventions. A qualitative methodology based on field observations and expert assessments was applied across several collective housing sites. The findings indicate that uncontrolled tank installations increase seismic vulnerability by introducing irregular structural loads, while also degrading urban aesthetics, damaging shared spaces, and generating social conflicts among residents. The study identifies significant deficiencies in current water-management strategies within collective housing programs. It concludes that integrating collective underground water-storage systems combined with decentralized distribution mechanisms could improve water accessibility, enhance structural safety, and preserve architectural coherence. The research contributes to sustainable and resilient housing strategies adapted to the Algerian urban context.