Morocco's ambitious waterway Project to secure water supply for millions

The government is putting the final touches on the waterway project that is to connect the Sebou Basin with the Oum Rbia area. The waterway is expected to be operational during this summer, ensuring a reliable water supply for approximately 12 million people, according to the Minister of Water, Nizar Barka. 

The project, which is the first of its kind in Africa, aims at addressing water scarcity caused by years of rainfall shortages. 

The project’s initial phase consists of channeling water through a 67-kilometer route from the Sebou Basin to the Bouregreg Basin. This route passes through the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah Dam which supplies water to the cities of Rabat and Casablanca. 

The water will eventually be pumped into the Oum Rbia Basin so as to help with the agricultural activities. The depletion of the region’s main basin exacerbated the status of the agricultural sector. Currently, the dam’s water levels are barely sufficient to meet the drinking water needs of the major cities in the area.

The waterway project is expected to compensate for the delays in the implementation of the desalination projects, especially in Casablanca. The city’s desalination plant, which was set to be in operation in 2016, is now expected to be functioning in 2027.

The waterway project aims to prevent the waste of water, as Morocco has lost more than 6.5 billion cubic meters of fresh water into the sea over the past five years.

“The aim of the project is to exploit the surplus of some basins such as Sebou and Loukos, which are disposed of in the sea, by transferring it to other areas.” former Minister Delegate for Water Charafat Afilal said in an interview with Sky News Arabia. 

This project, according to Afilal “is not born of the moment,” but comes as a result of “long efforts and meticulous technical studies that lasted for years.” 

The former minister said that “These solutions alone remain limited and cannot end the water problem in Morocco, so it is necessary to search for other resources,” 

Morocco has drafted a comprehensive plan spanning 2020 to 2027. The plan entails the allocation of $14 billion designated to the construction of desalination plants and dams and increasing water supply in rural areas. These projects reflect Morocco’s diligent work to maintain water safety, and mitigate the effects of delayed rain.