Rabat – Authorities in the Casablanca-Settat region have reactivated the Ministry of Interior’s directive to close traditional public baths, or hammams, for three days a week as part of measures to address Morocco’s ongoing water crisis.
The closures, which will affect operations on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, come in response to severe water shortages caused by prolonged drought, SNRT News reported.
Abderrahmane Hadrami, the regional secretary for the Bath Sector at the General Union of Enterprises and Professions, confirmed to the press that hammam owners received verbal instructions to begin the closures starting today.
He further noted that the directive is aimed at conserving water, although it is unclear how long the measure will remain in effect.
Local authorities have previously imposed similar restrictions on hammams to manage the country’s dwindling water resources.
The restrictions were temporarily lifted during Ramadan, allowing hammams to operate daily starting March 11 to accommodate the increased demand during the holy month.
Other water-saving measures included placing restrictions on car washing and encouraging the adoption of water-saving technologies to mitigate the impact of the drought.
In addition, the use of potable water for washing vehicles, streets, public squares, and other communal spaces has been banned.
This restriction on portable water use also extends to the irrigation of green spaces and sports fields, as well as a limit to the filling of public and private swimming pools to once a year. These pools are required to be equipped with mechanisms for water recycling.
Morocco has been grappling with significant water shortages across much of the country due to successive years of drought.
King Mohammed VI addressed the water crisis in his throne day speech last month, urging all Moroccans to participate in safeguarding this vital resource.
“Preserving water is a national responsibility that concerns all institutions and all stakeholders. It is also every citizen’s solemn duty,” the monarch said.
