Water Resource Management in Morocco A Growing Challenge Amidst Drought

Tuesday 17 December 2024 - 14:00

In the past three months, the reservoirs of Morocco’s dams have increased by just one billion cubic meters, a marginal rise considering the country's water demands. Between September 1 and mid-December 2024, Morocco experienced below-average precipitation levels, ranging from 3.6 mm to 132 mm. This rainfall deficit, which is 67% below seasonal averages, raises serious concerns about the management of water resources in a context marked by persistent drought.

Despite the limited rainfall, certain regions, particularly the Oriental and South-East areas, recorded significant water inputs. In contrast, the rest of the country only saw average contributions. The total volume of water recorded in the main dams during this period amounted to approximately 1.075 billion cubic meters, a 35% shortfall compared to annual averages.

This situation has directly impacted the filling rate of the country's dams. By the second week of December 2024, the water reserves stood at 4.85 billion cubic meters, representing an overall filling rate of 28.8%. Although this figure shows a slight improvement over the 23.5% recorded at the same time last year, it remains insufficient to meet the country’s water needs.

The period from 2020 to 2024 has proven to be one of the driest in Morocco’s history, with total water inputs of approximately 14.6 billion cubic meters, well below usual levels. The 2021-2022 year saw an alarming record, with annual contributions not exceeding two billion cubic meters. This critical situation severely impacted the water stock in dams and worsened difficulties in supplying potable water and irrigation.

In light of this reality, managing water resources has become more urgent than ever. Climate challenges force Morocco to continue strengthening its water infrastructure, optimizing the use of existing resources, and developing alternative solutions such as desalination and the reuse of treated wastewater.