Morocco experiences 4th hottest year consecutively since 1981, says Water Minister

Minister of Water and Equipment Nizar Baraka revealed that Morocco has experienced the fourth warmest year in a row in 2021 in over 40 years.

During his presentation of the Ministry’s sub-budget before the House of Representatives, Baraka highlighted the significance of the recent climatic conditions in the Kingdom, pointing out that the average temperature exceeded the usual climate average by about 0.9 degrees Celsius, between 2010 and 1981.

Between the years 2018 to 2022, the Moroccan climate was marked by a succession of dry and hot years, with an annual water deficit estimated at 59%, 71%, 54%, and 85% respectively of annual water reserve rates.

The Minister said that average rainfall has additionally witnessed a 47% deficit at the national level, compared to the average rainfall for the same period, which ranged between 22 mm and 329 mm.

The Minister also revealed a decrease in the snow-covered area, a deficit of snowfall by 89%, and a decrease in the number of snow days from 41 to 14 days in 2022.

Baraka additionally pointed to the worrying dam filling levels across the Kingdom, stating that up until November 1, Morocco is at a 25% filling rate, compared to 35% recorded during the same period last year.

About 4.03 billion m3 are currently available across Moroccan dams, said Baraka, as he explained that “despite the decline in water reserves in dams, drinking water needs have been met through the use of desalination of seawater, especially in Agadir, the strengthening of supplies from groundwater, the networking of river basins and the reduction of most supplies for irrigation.”

Regarding groundwater resources, the Minister noted that “they have recorded a significant decline due to low rainfall and snow, as well as the excessive use for drinking water supply and irrigation,” noting that most of the water plains have experienced a record drop in water level ranging from 3 meters to 6.85 meters this year.

The government official said that the volume of water entering the dams breached 424 million m3 at the beginning of the current year, which represents a 43% deficit compared to the annual average, and a surplus of 74% compared to the previous year.

After addressing similar drought situations internationally, Baraka assured that Morocco has a significant number of dams and treatment plants that have allowed to generalize the constant and uninterrupted supply of drinking water in urban areas, and increase access to drinking water in rural areas to 98.5% of areas with appropriate infrastructure, despite hat the rate of individual access not exceeding 44%.

This infrastructure has also helped irrigate more than 2 million hectares, protect plains and cities from flooding and contribute to the production of electricity, he noted, adding that Morocco has 149 large dams, 137 small and medium dams, and 88 units of drinking water treatment, including 9 for the desalination of seawater and 16 water diversion facilities.