Morocco’s dam reserves drop as heatwave intensifies, raising water stress concerns

Morocco’s dam reserves are falling rapidly amid an intense summer heatwave, with overall storage levels approaching 35% of capacity, raising fears of worsening chronic water stress.

As of Sunday, official data from the Directorate of Water Engineering showed the country’s nine main river basin systems holding a combined 5.93 billion cubic meters of water, 35.39% of their normal capacity of 16.76 billion cubic meters.

The figure remains higher than last year’s 28.63% recorded on the same date, thanks to spring rains that boosted supplies. Analysts say the current summer is outperforming 2024 in both water volumes and filling rates, despite growing demand for drinking water and irrigation.

Four basins remain in what officials classify as “critical water stress” territory, with reserves below one-third of capacity: Oum Er-Rbia (10.72%), Souss-Massa (18.78%), Moulouya (29.06%), and Draa-Oued Noun (29.45%).

By contrast, northern basins are in relatively better shape. The Bouregreg basin, benefiting from last year’s water-transfer projects, leads with 63% capacity, followed by Loukkos (53.73%), Ziz–Ghris–Guir (50.45%), and Tensift (44%).

National dam filling rates fell from 38.01% at the end of June to 35.78% by the end of July. Authorities have warned that rural and remote urban areas are most at risk of summer water shortages, as extreme heat accelerates surface water losses.

Officials are urging conservation measures and more efficient irrigation to mitigate the impact of declining reserves, which tend to drop sharply during Morocco’s hottest months of July and August.