Morocco outlines measures to address water crisis

The government of Morocco has outlined several projects aimed at accelerating addressing water crisis affecting the country.

Morocco has faced water scarcity and drought challenges in recent years, leading provinces to implement measures to rationalize drinking water use. Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, acknowledged the severe impact of climate change on water availability and dam storage levels during the 2023-2024 hydrological year and emphasised the country’s dedication in tackling the challenges through implementing several solutions.

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Measures

The measures include; investing in desalination projects to increase water availability, particularly in coastal areas, more water from dams will be allocated to inland and mountainous regions to meet drinking water and irrigation needs, and treated wastewater will be reused for watering green spaces and golf courses, reducing pressure on freshwater sources.

Plans also include the construction of interconnection pipelines for hydraulic systems and the drilling and equipping of water wells to ensure adequate water supply for drinking and irrigation purposes. The Minister noted that the projected budget for these initiatives has been revised upwards to

Baraka also mentioned significant investments in the water sector to mobilize both conventional and unconventional water resources, ensuring sustainable development and water supply for the country. The projected budget for these initiatives has been revised upwards to US $14bn from an initial estimate of US $11bn.