Water situation: Morocco will be thirsty this summer
Nizar Baraka, the Minister of Equipment and Water, has responded favorably to the invitation of the Committee on Basic Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. There is a reason for this, the theme chosen by the deputies fits perfectly with one of the hot topics of the day, namely the water deficit. This was a golden opportunity for the boss of the Istiqlal Party to settle accounts with previous governments led by the PJD party which is accused of having sacrificed the 2009-2021 National Water Strategy (NWS).
Moreover, a thematic parliamentary commission, chaired by Rahal Mekkaoui (from the Istiqlal party) had examined the assessment of this strategy in 2020. The commission concluded that the government of the time had serious shortcomings in the implementation of this strategy. The subject was debated in plenary, with the presence of the Minister, and the case was closed. Today, the issue is back on the table in a brutal way, with a gloomy prospect: this summer, several cities will experience thirst. In any case, projects included in this strategy have not been implemented.
■ The goal of 400 million cubic meters/per year missed: It should be noted that the projects carried out do reach a production capacity of barely 147 million cubic meters per year. This is a far cry from the goal of 400 million cubic meters per year of the National Strategy. These are projects carried out in the cities of Boujdour, Laayoune, Akhafnir, Alhoceima, and Agadir (also used for irrigation). This is also the case of water for industrial use for the projects of the OCP phosphate company in Jorf Lasfar and Laayoune. As far as the projects underway are concerned, they include the desalination of nearly 49 million cubic meters per annum. The stations being launched will be able to treat a total of 330 million cubic meters. The construction of 57 large dams is not left behind. Only nine have been completed and fifteen are under construction, as part of the strategy for the 2009-2021 period.
■ The transfer of water from surplus areas to deficit areas is stalled: The ambitious project to transfer water from the North of the country, where there is a water surplus, to the South, which often experiences a deficit, is another matter. The project was supposed to transport water from the Laou, Loukkos, and Sebou areas to the Oum Rbiî and Tensift areas. Here again, there has been a delay in the completion of such a project. This does not make it possible to meet the drinking water needs of the cities of the Atlantic coast and Marrakech. The same goes for the irrigation water needs of the Doukkala, Beni Amir, and Tassaout areas.
■ Delay in the preservation of groundwater: The groundwater supply projects have not evolved significantly either. Thus, thirty-four water tables required the signing of management contracts. 3 contracts were signed (relating to the areas of Souss-Massa, Haouz, and Berrechid), and 6 are ready (Fez-Meknes, Tadla, Dakhla, Souss-Massa 2, Boudnib, and Rmel). A decree has been published. It defines the protection area of the Chtouka aquifer and declares it as a water deficit area to facilitate its management in an integrated manner.
Emergency program
TO cope with this exceptional situation, the government has taken emergency measures, in coordination with the various stakeholders. In addition to the activation of watch committees in different provinces that are experiencing a deficit, the government has decided to speed up the work of supplying rural centers and hamlets. The goal is also to strengthen the discovery of additional resources, through drilling to exploit the groundwater. Also on the menu is the issue of water savings and putting an end to wastage, especially in the distribution channels. It is necessary to supply the centers and small rural villages experiencing water shortages by resorting to water trucks. It will be necessary to rent and buy water trucks, and to install mobile stations for the desalination of sea water and brackish water. Stopping the irrigation of areas with drinking water and using treated wastewater are also on the agenda.
Mohamed CHAOUI
