Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Fez – Tangier, the City of the Strait, has enforced measures decreed by a local council for the rationalization of water use. The launched project aims to curb the water stress, caused in part by climate change and exacerbated by delayed rainfall.
These measures include banning the use of drinking water for watering green spaces and public gardens as well as cleaning public spaces. They also prohibit refilling public and private swimming pools more than once a year.
Mohamed Boujrmma, who is in charge of the risk management division in Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, spoke on the issue in an interview with local outlet Le360. “We have moved on to the implementation of the government decision which imposes several measures for the rationalization of the use of water and the fight against its waste,” he declared.
“The competent authorities have created a number of commissions to monitor the implementation of these measures,” he added.
As a replacement for drinking water, Boujrmma said that green spaces will now be maintained using wastewater, adding that the authorities have informed the managers and owners of hotels, tourist complexes, hammams and carwashes to comply with this decision.
In the event of non-compliance with these measures, Boujrmaa warned that severe sanctions will be applied. These can go as far as the confiscation of licenses or even temporary or permanent closure.
“I ask citizens and economic actors to get involved in this national effort,” he concluded.
The drought over the past few years has dangerously affected Morocco’s water reserves and has caused dam reserve levels to go down drastically.
The cause for the lack of water has been attributed to record-low rainfalls throughout the country over recent years, a common phenomenon during global warming.
Tangier has joined the list of other Moroccan cities who have taken action against the country’s water crisis. Last month, authorities from the Casablanca-Settat region enacted a water-rationing campaign that includes measures that affect car washing services and public hammams.
They include prohibiting the use of potable water for car washing, and ceasing operation for car washing services on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Public hammams in the city will also be closed on those days.
Morocco’s government has acknowledged the challenging situation, stressing that protecting drinking water is currently a top priority.
Read more: Morocco Faces Severe Water Crisis with 67% Rainfall Deficit
