Morocco is preparing a new phase of its ambitious water highway project, aimed at transferring water between river basins and directing supplies from regions with surpluses to areas facing growing shortages.
According to the Ministry of Equipment and Water, the proposed phase will link the Sebou and Oum Er-Rbia basins across roughly 300 kilometres, with the system designed to transfer nearly 800 million cubic metres of water annually. The project is expected to strengthen drinking-water supplies in Settat, Berrechid and areas south of Casablanca, while also supporting agricultural production in the Oum Er-Rbia basin. The additional water resources are expected to help secure irrigation for approximately 176,000 hectares.
The planned expansion builds on the first stage of Morocco’s inter-basin water-transfer network, which began operating in October 2023. That 67-kilometre system transfers surplus water from the Al Wahda Dam in the Sebou basin to the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah Dam in the Bouregreg basin.
By the end of December 2025, the first phase had transferred more than 953 million cubic metres, helping reinforce water supplies along the Rabat-Casablanca corridor, which serves around 12 million people, while reducing pressure on the Al Massira Dam. The inter-basin transfer programme is part of Morocco’s wider national plan for drinking water and irrigation, which carries an investment value of more than 130 billion dirhams.
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Desalination expands alongside water transfers
Morocco is also accelerating seawater desalination as a second major component of its water-security strategy. The country aims to increase desalination capacity to around 1.7 billion cubic metres annually by 2030.
Three major desalination facilities in Dakhla, Safi and Greater Casablanca are expected to come online in the coming months. The government is also targeting greater dam storage capacity, with dams currently under construction expected to raise national storage capacity to around 22 billion cubic metres. Further desalination plants powered by renewable energy are planned in Oriental, Souss-Massa, Tangier, Guelmim, Tan-Tan and Rabat between 2029 and 2030.
Beyond developing new supplies, Morocco’s strategy includes expanding treated wastewater reuse, improving water efficiency and reducing losses from distribution networks. The government also wants to develop a stronger domestic desalination industry by increasing local manufacturing, technical expertise and skills.The combined approach is intended to strengthen Morocco’s water sovereignty as the country faces recurring drought, population growth, urbanisation and rising demand from agriculture and industry.
