Water

Global Challenges and Morocco’s Response

With the world facing critical water shortages, Morocco is navigating this crisis through innovative and sustainable strategies. Learn how the nation’s approach to water management offers vital insights and solutions for a thirsty planet.

By Mounir EL KHALOUFI, PMO, Finance & Sustainability Professional.
Jul, 2024

As the global population surges by approximately 80 million people annually, the demand for fresh water is skyrocketing, increasing by 64 billion cubic meters each year. This staggering transformation suggests that by 2050, the world will need to accommodate an additional three billion people, primarily in developing countries where access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation remains an insurmountable challenge. By 2030, it is projected that 47% of the world’s population could live under severe water stress, highlighting a glaring inequality in water access that conventional solutions struggle to address.

Freshwater is unevenly distributed across the globe. While some countries boast efficient management of their water resources, others, particularly in many developing regions, grapple daily to meet their populations’ basic needs. The World Bank reports that over 660 million people live on less than $2 a day, and the OECD warns that significant portions of the globe will face high levels of water stress in the coming decades. This scenario is exacerbated by the fact that irrigated agriculture consumes between 70% and 90% of global water withdrawals, creating an unsustainable reliance on diminishing groundwater resources and the uncertainties of climate change.

The rapid increase in groundwater use in arid regions, where 85% of the world’s most drought-prone population lives, adds a layer of complexity to managing this vital resource.

Situated at the crossroads of Africa and Europe, Morocco exemplifies the challenges and opportunities in water management amidst growing scarcity. With per capita water availability dropping below 620 cubic meters annually, well below the water poverty threshold of 1,000 cubic meters per person, Morocco faces significant hurdles.

Since the 1960s, Morocco has implemented ambitious policies to harness its water resources, notably through the construction of large dams. With over 149 major dams and an extensive hydraulic network, the country has successfully avoided catastrophic shortages during severe droughts, such as those experienced in the 1980s.

Morocco’s water policy, driven by the vision of the late King Hassan II and continued by King Mohammed VI, is grounded in proactive and innovative water resource management. The nation’s hydraulic infrastructure, including large-capacity dams and water transfer systems, aims not only to secure drinking water supply but also to support agricultural irrigation and flood protection.

In response to current challenges, Morocco is increasingly embracing non-conventional solutions, such as seawater desalination and the reuse of treated wastewater.The desalination plants in Laâyoune and Agadir, for instance, reflect this shift towards sustainable water resource management. Additionally, Morocco is diversifying its water supplies by building new infrastructure and strengthening policies for efficient water demand management.

Incorporating water resource management into a sustainable development framework is now imperative for Morocco. The legislative framework, bolstered by Law No. 36-15 of August 10, 2016, advocates for decentralized and participatory governance, emphasizing social and environmental responsibility.

Initiatives such as the National Water Plan 2020-2050 aim to align water needs with the country’s climatic and economic realities. This plan includes measures ranging from constructing new dams to promoting water efficiency in agriculture and industry, along with raising community awareness about rational water use.

As Morocco continues to face the challenges posed by water scarcity, its commitment to proactive and sustainable water resource management stands as a model for other nations confronting similar crises. The success of these strategies will depend on their ability to adapt continually to increasing demographic and climatic pressures.

With the advent of new technologies and innovative policies, Morocco has the opportunity to turn its constraints into strengths, forging a future where every drop counts, and where water becomes more than just a resource but the foundation of shared resilience.

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Mounir EL KHALOUFI is a Finance, PMO, and Sustainability expert, specializing in environmental issues and sustainable development policies.

One Comment

  1. An excellent article highlighting Morocco’s proactive and sustainable water management, serving as a model for the world.

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