Morocco Intensifies Crackdown on Illegal Wells After Tragic Child Deaths

In Morocco, many illegal wells escape authorizations and control, and are at the heart of several accidents, some tragic. Following the Rayan incident, the authorities in the Ain Sebâa district of Casablanca have decided to strengthen the controls.

Thus, surprise checks are carried out in homes to identify illegal wells that have not received any authorization and do not comply with safety standards. According to the law, any drilling must be subject to prior authorization from the competent authorities, namely the water basin agencies or the regional water authority.

Also, the well owner must sign a sworn statement, included in the authorization application, through which he undertakes to surround the work in progress with a protective barrier in order to avoid accidents and preserve the water against the risks of pollution.

It is then up to the State to carry out checks to verify whether the owner has complied with the conditions of use of the wells, especially those that are abandoned and which are currently numerous, due to the drought experienced by Morocco in recent years.