Water Sector in Morocco: Situation and Perspectives

Due to its geographic location, Morocco is characterized by a strongly contrasted climate, with its rainfall being highly irregular in space and time. The natural renewable water resources is estimated 22.8 billion m³/yearBCM of with the contribution of18 BCM from surface water and 4.8 BCM of groundwater recharge resulting in 730 m³/capita/year which is below the commonly accepted threshold of 1000 m³/capita /year .Despite the success of the past water policies initiated in the sixties, the future water sector management challenge of the water availability and demand must address the most urgent problems and make water a decisive factor in its sustainable development. In this challenging environment, Morocco has succeeded in ensuring the needs in domestic and industrial water and the development of large-scale irrigated agriculture. Despite these achievements, the factors that determine water availability and water needs have changed so much in recent decades that the country must adapt radically in order to prevent a critical situation. Many solutions exist. Their implementation within an innovative and integrated approach to the whole water sector should allow Morocco to address the most urgent problems and make water a decisive factor in its sustainable development. The new water strategy, implemented in 2009, is expected to support the development of the water needs for the development until 2030 through the implementation of integrated policy combining water conservation and resource mobilization in conventional and unconventional water while respecting the environment and the rights of future generations. The strategy will focus on three components; water demand management and water valuation, supply development and managementand preservation and protection of the water sources and the environment. Demand management measures is expected to save 2.4 BCM with contribution of 120 MCM to domestic, construction of 50 dams with additional capacity of1.7 BCM, water transfer of 800 MCM, 400 MCM of desalinated water, 300 MCM of wastewater reuse and increased recharge wastewater. Also implementation of all provisions of Law 10-95 on water, preservation of wetland, drought and flood risk management and enhance information system. These measures are expected to achieve sources sustainability and meeting water requirement.