Rabat – Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani underlined that his government is prioritizing the issue of drinking water during the weekly government council on Thursday, January 9.
El Othmani said that his government takes the issue of water provision seriously, emphasizing that all necessary financial resources are mobilized to implement the 2020-2027 national priority program.
Morocco’s government hopes that the program will increase the number of large dams in the country from 145 to 179 dams.
By 2027, the government wants to increase the number by 20 dams to reach a capacity of 27 million cubic meters of surface water filled with rainfall, instead of the current 18 billion cubic meters.
The head of government also spotlighted the importance of the increase of small dams and hillside dams.
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The medium-sized dams help mobilize water resources for people in remote areas.
The first phase of the program constitutes five phases.
The first phase covers the construction of dams and desalinating seawater. El Othmani announced plans for the opening of three major desalination plants in the coming years.
The second phase focuses on managing the demand for water and its preservation through several mechanisms, including in agriculture.
The fourth step of the program is related to wastewater reuse.
El Othmani believes that wastewater can be used to irrigate green areas and all existing golf spaces.
“Barely 40% of golf courses are watered by processed water,” El Othmani said.
Morocco seeks to cover 100% of the stadiums and green courts with processed water.
El Othmani argued that “drinking water is expensive and precious and must be used in a rational manner.”
The fifth phase of the program will focus on awareness and campaigns to sensitize people about the value of water and the need to preserve it as a “precious and important” component in our life.
The decision to discuss water with the government council comes a few days after King Mohammed VI chaired a working session on January 2 to discuss the national program with the government.
King Mohammed VI also gave instructions for the implementation of the program at a cost of MAD 150 billion.
