Severe Water Shortage Looms for Agadir as Dam Levels Drop Critically Low

The Souss-Massa region is going through a critical water situation that requires taking measures before the arrival of summer. According to figures published by the Water Basin Agency, the rainfall deficit and the drop in the filling rate of the dams to worrying levels presage a water shortage, if a rationalization plan is not put in place.

The same figures show a considerable drop in the reserves of the main dams supplying the city of Agadir with drinking water. As of February 28, the Ibn Tachfine dam recorded a filling rate of 13%, or 40 million cubic meters instead of 296 million, representing its total capacity. As for the Moulay Abdallah dam, its reserves have reached 17 million cubic meters, or 19% of its total capacity of 90 million cubic meters. As for the Abdelmoumen dam, its filling rate has dropped to 22 million cubic meters, while it can contain a maximum of 198 million cubic meters.

According to the daily Al Ahdath Al Maghribia, the regional authorities are trying to use the water stock of the Aoulouz dam and the volume retained by the Ibn Tachfine dam, as well as that of Mokhtar Soussi, whose filling level has dropped from 39 million cubic meters to 18 million.

Faced with this impending water shortage in the summer, the local authorities are turning to water rationalization until the next rainy season. They also organized a meeting during which they committed to implementing the measures included in the 2020/2027 drinking water and irrigation program. In addition, the wali of the Souss-Massa region called on his collaborators to develop a work plan and find appropriate solutions to cope with the scarcity of water.