Water Management in Morocco
Because the country of Morocco is located in an arid climate, water management
is a key factor in the future of Morocco. Currently Morocco has very poor water
management. For instance, Morocco uses 85% of its water for irrigation, yet only 14% is
actually irrigated1. Water pollution has also become an issue as Moroccan coasts are
being ravaged by waste and litter. There are a couple ways to resolving the water
management problem; those include investing in the desalinization of salt water, and
reconstructing of water management policies.
Morocco currently utilizes groundwater; a natural non-renewable source of water
that is resides underground. These groundwater sources are quickly diminishing; as of
2005 only 56% of the rural population had access to clean water(3). Morocco has
invested 5 billion dollars in sewage projects to correct water management errors2. But
more measures must be taken to insure a constant supply of clean water. Desalination is
the process of converting salt water to fresh water. It has proven to be a good solution for
water deprived nations in the Middle East. Although desalination is a very expensive and
time consuming process, the potential of desalination can not be ignored. Desalination
plants can be constructed along the western and northern coasts of Morocco, utilizing the
water from the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Desalination will only be the first step in securing water for Morocco. To ensure
that the water retains its purity, Morocco must construct and maintain more water
treatment plants. There are approximately 63 waste treatment plants spread out around
the nation of Morocco, and many of them are reported to be not working or in poor
working condition3. With water treatment plants, Morocco will be able to retain fresh
water that has been desalinized.
The Moroccan government acknowledges that its water management policies are
outdated; King Mohammad VI has stated, “The time has come for us to radically change
our perceptions and our attitudes towards water through managing the demand for this
resource and the rationalization of its consumption. Moreover, it is necessary to follow up
on efforts that are engaged to mobilize all the water resources possible”3. Several
policies and acts have been written, these include: the Oum Er Rbia Water Resource
Conservation Project, the First Water Sector Development Policy Loan, and the Rural
Water Supply & Development Policy Loan. These policies have ranged in effect, to
gauge the improvement, in 1994 only 15% of the rural population had access to drinking
water and in 2005 the percentage rose to 56%3.
Efforts in securing a water source in Morocco can be applied to world water
scarcity issues. Although desalination is a very expensive process with worldwide effort,
desalination can be further researched to be more energy efficient and therefore less
expensive. Water management is essential in securing water, as we can see from
"Water in Morocco....: International Development Research Centre." INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH
CENTRE | CENTRE DE RECHERCHES POUR LE DÉVELOPPEMENT INTERNATIONAL. 11 Feb. 2009
<http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-65879-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html>.
1
"Morocco: Water resources: Plea for alternative solutions: Centre de recherches pour le d." INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTRE | CENTRE DE RECHERCHES POUR LE DÉVELOPPEMENT INTERNATIONAL. 11 Feb. 2009
<http://www.idrc.ca/fr/ev-111009-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html>.
3
"Morocco - Accountability for Better Water Management Results." The World Bank. 11 Feb. 2009
<http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/MENAEXT/MOROCCOEXTN/0,,contentMDK:21722173~menu
PK:50003484~pagePK:2865066~piPK:2865079~theSitePK:294540,00.html>.
2
Morocco. Proper planning and treatment of water is a policy that all nations should
practice. With worldwide cooperation, water scarcity will never be an issue.
Water management is an extremely important issue because water is essential to
an adequate living style. With its topography and progressive government, Morocco has
the ability to insure a pure water source for its people. Morocco stands as living proof
that water scarcity is a growing issue around the world, and with a little innovation and
progressive policies, water scarcity will never be a problem.