Morocco Battles Severe Water Shortage Amid Worst Drought in 30 Years

To cope with these successive heat waves that have exacerbated the shortage of drinking water, the government and municipalities have had to reduce the flow of drinking water and ban its use for gardening, vehicle washing and street cleaning. "We are facing a situation of water stress, the stored water is insufficient, we must take care of the resources we have," explained Moulay Ahmed Afilal, deputy mayor of Casablanca, to EFE.

The objective of the city of Casablanca in adopting this measure is to "raise awareness among citizens about the rational use of water", while waiting to find alternative solutions such as the exploitation of aquifers and the implementation of five wastewater treatment plants and a desalination plant, added Afilal. Like Casablanca, the municipalities of Berrechid, Settat or Oujda have also reduced the flow of drinking water.

The government spokesman, Mustafa Baitas, recently cited other urgent actions such as supplying drinking water to the main cities from distant reservoirs and drilling to find new wells to avoid "disruptions or water cuts" in the kingdom.

"The government should have adopted these measures a long time ago... Fifty cities are threatened by thirst," criticizes Mohamed Benabou, an expert in climate and sustainable development. Water reserves are at 28.2% (compared to 46% last year), the lowest level in four decades, he laments. Salima Belmkeddem, president of the NGO "Maroc Environnement 2050", for her part calls on the government to rationalize the use of water in agriculture and train small farmers. "We need a policy adapted to the current environmental emergency..." she advised.