A scorching summer awaits Morocco, with expectations of water shortfall in a number of regions of the country, amid a reduction in precipitation induced by climate change and half-empty dams.
Until Monday, the capacity of dams in Morocco reached 33 percent, at a time when it was 50.1 percent last year.
The largest dam in the Kingdom, located in the Ouazzane region, which has a capacity of more than 3 billion and 500 million cubic meters has reached 55 percent capacity today, at a time when it was 73.5 percent last year.
“it is certain that the country will witness crises of thirst next summer,” climate expert Ali Chroud told Hespress.
“There are climatic factors that have affected the water bed on the one hand, and the dams’ capacity on the other hand. Not to mention the valleys that drained.”
Depletion of groundwater levels remains the main issue in Morocco. The country’s aquifers showed a continuous decline, sometimes reaching values that may exceed 1–2 m/year.
In the 1990s, Morocco experienced droughts every 7 to 10 years. Today, these moments of weak rainfall occur every 2 to 3 years, largely due to climate change.
A number of villages and communities struggle with a water supply and quality, concerns that keep getting exacerbated by droughts and other weather conditions.
According to data from the World Health Organization, 83% of Moroccans have access to improved drinking water, while 72% have access to improved sanitation.
However, with a steadily growing population and worsening climate conditions, droughts are increasing in frequency and intensity in Morocco.
Drought damage to the agricultural sector affects both rural livelihoods and the national economy as a whole.
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