A water highway: Morocco’s solution to water stress

The Moroccan authorities had successfully carried out a first water highway project connecting the Sebou River to the Bouregreg basin. This time, they plan to connect the Oued El Makhazine dam to the port of El Boughaz Fadil to alleviate the drinking water shortage that is severely affecting the Tangier region, reports Rue20.

Several measures have been taken by various sectoral departments as well as regional authorities to supply the populations with drinking water. The Ministry of Agriculture has already launched an urgent project to connect several basins, it is reported, adding that the government has also announced the construction and rehabilitation of desalination plants, some of which will be powered by renewable energy (photovoltaics).

Similarly, modern irrigation systems will be put in place to rationalize water use. The design of a national hydrographic plan is also planned, which involves taking stock of all water resources in order to supply the cities of the kingdom according to priorities. Faced with the urgency, the government is working to launch the construction of the Tangier desalination plant, assure the regional authorities.

As part of a comprehensive 2020-2050 plan, Morocco has recently allocated 383 billion dirhams ($37.6 billion) to improve domestic and agricultural water infrastructure. The program, which aims to improve the quality of drinking water, provides for the construction of a desalination plant on the Atlantic coast and a wastewater treatment plant on the Mediterranean coast.