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Join on Telegram Rabat – Morocco’s government has again discussed the water crisis facing the North African country, pledging intensive measures to tackle the issue.
Spokesperson of the Moroccan government Mustapha Baitas said on Thursday that the cabinet is considering “numerous” projects for both the medium and long term to address the issue of water stress and ensure the supply of drinking water to all regions across the country.
Measures are also underway to address the situation, including the national program for seawater desalination plants, the program for reuse of purified wastewater, and the program for water conservation in potable water supply networks.
This is in addition to strengthening vigilance against the water security challenge.
Ensuring optimal mobilization of resources at the level of dams, wells, and desalination plants as well as the installation of emergency equipment for water transfer and supply are also part of the measures taken in Morocco to address the situation, he said.
Baitas also recalled the National Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation Program for 2020-2027 with a budget of MAD 143 billion (approximately $14.3 billion).
The program aims to meet the growing demand for water resources, ensure water security, and address the effects of climate change.
For several years, Morocco has been affected by the worst drought due to lack of rainfall, climate challenges, and rising temperatures in the past few years.
Several of Morocco’s partners emphasized its determination to work with the country to help it tackle the issue through different means, including loans.
Last year in December, the European Investment Bank outlined the measures provided to Morocco to address the situation and evaluated the water crisis as “severe.”
The bank emphasized that several regions have been facing water scarcity, attributing the situation to growing population and environmental changes.
“The shortage is caused by environmental changes, a growing population, and over-extraction of groundwater for agriculture. In 2022, the country experienced its worst drought in 40 years. Since the 1960s, access to water has diminished to less than 600m3 of water per person annually, from 2 600m3,” the bank said.
Authorities across Moroccan provinces announced several measures to rationalize drinking water use, including an appeal calling for car washes and public hammams to stop operating three days a week.
These measures come, however, amid reports, highlighting the growing exports of water-thirsty crops like avocado.
