Rabat – 87% of Moroccan beaches conform to the strict standards of the National Environment Department, according to its report published on Friday June 18.
Monitoring campaigns are carried out annually during the summer season, from May to September on a bimonthly basis.
This year is marked by a jump to the “excellent” quality category, reflecting the efforts made in terms of liquid sanitation and sanitary infrastructure by actors in the sector, operators and managers of national beaches’ efforts aiming to improve the quality of bathing water, explains the report.
Out of the 461 sampled locations, 425 were the subject of elaborate studies across various classifications. Out of those, 370 sites were declared of microbiological quality in accordance with the requirements of standard NM.03.7.199, said the report.
This standard, aiming to establish a “proactive management” of the quality of bathing waters, follows a classification based on findings dating back four years.
The classification allows for four categories “excellent,”“good,” ”sufficient” and “insufficient.”
The classification is based on the sources of pollution likely to have an impact on the quality of bathing waters, as well as their possible effects on the health of bathers.
According to the report, only 12.94% of the locations monitored are non-compliant, amounting to 55 locations spread over 29 beaches, the majority of which are located at the level of the Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima region, the Casablanca-Settat region and the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region.
The main causes of degradation are generally due to the influence of wastewater discharges and contributions from rivers, in addition to insufficient hygienic infrastructure at beaches, concluded the report.
The supervisory department, tasked with maintaining the quality of bathing water as an important asset for the development of seaside tourism, has been actively monitoring bathing water quality for years, through elaborate studies and programs such as this one.
This program was reinforced after the adoption of law 81-12 which regulates the country’s coastlines. Article 35 in particular demands for regular monitoring, and a subsequent classification of beaches according to the results of the performed studies.
