Casablanca launches €465 million flood protection project for eastern districts

Monday 20 July 2026 - 19:17

By: Sahili Aya

Casablanca launches €465 million flood protection project for eastern districts

The Casablanca-Settat Regional Multiservice Company (SRM) is advancing a major infrastructure project designed to strengthen flood protection in the eastern areas of Casablanca, with an investment exceeding 465 million Moroccan dirhams.

Known as the Eastern Reinforcement System (SRE), the project aims to modernize the city's stormwater drainage network and improve its capacity to handle periods of intense rainfall. The initiative responds to the rapid urban expansion of several districts and the growing need for resilient infrastructure capable of managing extreme weather events.

Launched in February 2026, the project includes the construction of two underground stormwater storage tunnels with a combined capacity of approximately 45,000 cubic meters. Built using advanced drilling techniques designed to minimize disruption to traffic and urban activity, the two galleries will extend over a total length of 3.7 kilometers.

The underground structures, with sections measuring 2.8 by 2.8 meters and 3.5 by 3.5 meters, will connect existing drainage facilities, including the Al Qods and Hay Sadri galleries, creating a more efficient system for collecting and managing rainwater.

The SRE project also includes the installation of around 2.3 kilometers of stormwater collectors, mainly along Sakia Hamra Boulevard, with diameters ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 millimeters. Additional works involve inspection shafts, hydraulic structures, storm overflow systems and pumping equipment.

According to project officials, construction is progressing according to schedule, with full commissioning expected during the second quarter of 2027.

Once operational, the system is expected to significantly improve flood resilience in several eastern districts of Casablanca, including Ain Chock, Ben M’Sick, Sidi Othmane and Sbata. The project will enhance the overall performance of the metropolitan area's stormwater management network.

The SRE is part of the broader Priority Stormwater Management Program (PAPP) 2025-2030, launched by SRM Casablanca-Settat to reinforce flood-control infrastructure across the region. The program represents a total investment estimated at 5.6 billion dirhams and includes the construction of six major stormwater collectors with a combined length of 90 kilometers.

Implemented under the framework of the National Program for Mutualized Liquid Sanitation and Treated Wastewater Reuse (PNAM), the initiative brings together several public partners, including the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Equipment and Water, the Casablanca-Settat Regional Council and SRM Casablanca-Settat.

Through these large-scale investments, Casablanca is seeking to adapt its urban infrastructure to climate challenges while supporting sustainable development in one of Morocco's fastest-growing metropolitan areas.