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Rabat – Morocco’s Ministry of Interior has called for moderating water usage to be moderated in a memo addressed to several local leaders, in response to the last few years of drought that the country has faced.
The memo, dated December 26 and cited by SNRTNews, noted that the drought over the past few years has “dangerously” affected Morocco’s water reserves. The drought has been caused by record low rainfalls over recent years, which have caused dam reserve levels to go down drastically.
Morocco has faced record levels of drought in recent years, severely affecting the country’s agricultural sector and causing water stress.
Earlier this week, Minister of Equipment and Water Nizar Baraka said the country experienced a 67% deficit in rainfall in recent months.
“The past five years have seen relentless droughts that have taken a toll on our water sources, leading us to face ongoing water stress,” he lamented.
Average precipitation has plummeted to a mere 21 millimeters since September of this year, significantly below the national average for the period.
As of December 22, water storage in dams had been a mere 23.5%, down from the 31.2% recorded on the same date last year.
“To combat this recurring drought and the pressing issue of water scarcity, the current government has fervently worked on devising a comprehensive program,” Baraka added.
Last year, some regions resorted to rationing out drinking water and limiting its usage during certain times of the day, in an effort to protect the dwindling reserves.
In response to the recent droughts, Morocco has started to look towards other avenues to moderate its water usage especially in irrigation. The country is also looking to employ new methods like seawater desalination to enhance its reserves.
