Morocco’s dam reserves have nearly tripled compared with a year ago following exceptional winter rainfall and snowfall, marking a sharp turnaround from years of severe water stress, according to official data.
Figures from the Ministry of Equipment and Water show the overall dam fill rate rose from 27.77% in March 2025 to 69.97% as of March 3, 2026. Water reserves now stand at approximately 11.7 billion cubic meters, reflecting what officials describe as a significant recovery in national water stocks.
The rebound follows weeks of heavy precipitation during the 2026 winter season, which has boosted storage levels across most of the country’s major river basins, particularly in northern and central regions.
Strong recovery in strategic basins
The Bouregreg Basin recorded a fill rate of 94.46%, ensuring stable drinking water supplies for the Rabat-Casablanca corridor ahead of the summer season.
In the northwest, the Loukkos Basin reached 93.98% capacity, while dams such as Oued El Makhazine and Nakhla reported full capacity levels.
The country’s largest basin by storage capacity, the Sebou Basin, now holds more than 4.6 billion cubic meters of water, with an overall fill rate of 83.45%. Key dams within the basin have reached maximum capacity.
Historic jump in Oum Er-Rbia
One of the most notable improvements was recorded in the Oum Er-Rbia Basin, where the fill rate climbed from a critically low 5.57% last year to 51.07% this month.
Although the Al Massira dam remains at 31.49% capacity, other major facilities in the basin have seen stronger recoveries, helping secure irrigation supplies for the Tadla and Doukkala plains.
The Tensift Basin also posted a strong performance, reaching 87.16%, easing concerns about water supply for Marrakech and surrounding areas.
Eastern and southern challenges persist
Conditions have also improved in the Souss-Massa Basin, where the fill rate rose to 54.31%, compared with 16% a year earlier, a development expected to benefit the region’s export-oriented agriculture.
However, the Draa-Oued Noun Basin remains the least filled nationwide at 35.30%, though still above last year’s levels.
Meteorological forecasts indicate continued rainfall and thunderstorms linked to an upper-level low-pressure system, suggesting that reservoir levels could rise further in the coming days, particularly in northern and central highland areas.
Beyond dams, the rainfall has also contributed to replenishing groundwater tables that were heavily depleted during consecutive drought years.
The latest figures mark a shift from what authorities previously described as “acute water stress” to a phase of strategic recovery. While the current reserves are expected to secure drinking water supplies for years and provide significant irrigation capacity, experts continue to stress the importance of careful water governance to ensure long-term sustainability, particularly in historically vulnerable basins such as Oum Er-Rbia and Souss-Massa.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.