2023-05-22 12:37:43
The worrying water situation in Morocco is worsening further as the water reserves of the country’s dams reach alarming levels. With a significant rainfall deficit, recent figures reveal that only 32.2% of the total capacity of the dams is currently filled. Compared to the previous year, this rate dropped significantly, from 33.8% to 32.2%.
These worrying figures underline the urgency of acting to deal with this impending water crisis. The Al Wahda dam, the largest in Morocco, is an exception among the other dams in the country which are almost dry. With a filling rate of 56.4%, it displays relatively higher reserves. However, this situation should not mask the critical reality of other dams.
The main dams at their lowest levels
The Al Massira dam, the second largest in the country, is the most affected with an alarming filling rate of only 3.7%. Compared to the same period the previous year (marked by drought), this rate was 7.6%, which testifies to the seriousness of the situation.
This dam, with a capacity of 2.657 billion cubic meters, currently has only 99.2 million cubic meters, well below the 200.9 million cubic meters of the previous year. The Bin El Ouidane dam, ranked third in terms of size, also presents a worrying situation with a filling rate of 18.8%. Although it has seen a slight improvement from last year, when the rate was 12.8%, the current reserves of this dam remain insufficient, reaching only 228.4 million cubic meters. The Idriss 1er dam, the fourth largest in the country, is also experiencing an alarming drop in its water reserves.
With a filling rate of 24.1%, reserves now stand at 272.5 million cubic meters, down from 529.5 million cubic meters the previous year. This drastic decrease in water reserves jeopardizes the supply of drinking water, agricultural irrigation and other essential activities that depend on these dams.
Adjustment of the 2027 national program
To improve drought management, King Mohammed VI recently chaired a working session dedicated to the review of the National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation 2020-2027. In order to accelerate and strengthen this program, a considerable additional investment of 143 billion dirhams has been allocated to it.
This budget increase will make it possible to carry out, as soon as possible, the urgent phase of the interconnection of the hydraulic basins of Sebou, Bouregreg and Oum Er-Rbia over a distance of 67 km.
In addition, new dams will be programmed and the costs of twenty planned dams will be updated. These initiatives will increase freshwater storage capacity by 6.6 billion cubic meters, accelerate unconventional water mobilization projects through seawater desalination plants and build capacity for wastewater reuse. processed.
Drinking water supply to rural areas will also be strengthened, with expanded coverage to include more douars, as well as logistical and human improvements.
Mehdi Idrissi / ECO Inspirations
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