As the Moroccan agricultural sector continues to be the most affected by successive heatwaves and drought in Morocco, it remains the largest water consumer in the country.
According to the latest report of the Specialized Committee on the Evaluation of Water Policies, the agricultural sector accounts for about 87% of total water consumption, or about 9 billion cubic metres per year.
As stressed in the report, the industrial and service sectors consume only 1.28 billion cubic metres. Direct water consumption in the construction and public works sector accounts for only 2% of total consumption. These figures clearly indicate that the agricultural sector is the main consumer of water resources in Morocco.
The report also highlights the considerable loss of water in transmission and distribution networks, which contributes to huge water drainage.
It is estimated that there is a loss of 120 million cubic metres of water per year in the action area of the Sebou Watershed Agency.
A waste of 100 million cubic metres is reported in the action area of the Moulouya Hydraulic Basin Agency, and 64 million cubic metres in the action area of the Kairouan Ziz-Gheris-Draa Watershed Agency.
In addition, it is estimated that 95% of wells in Morocco are illegal and unauthorised.
Challenged by the alarming situation, the Committee’s report recommends a revision of the current quotas allocated to agriculture and stresses the need to apply fair criteria to the different uses and users of water.
The objective is to preserve aquatic ecosystems by reviewing the rules for allocating quotas both between and within sectors, thus ensuring equitable use of water and preserving the natural environment.
The document also proposes several concrete measures to address the issue, including the development and promulgation of a law on soil protection in accordance with Article 17 of Law 7311.03 2.
It also suggests the reactivation of the draft law on rural and mountainous regions recommended by the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (EESC) and the adaptation of Law 90.12 on urban planning to the provisions of framework Law 99.12.
The report also recommends a revision of the legal arsenal related to the water issue, as well as the preparation and publication of the other regulatory texts mentioned in Water Act 36.15, which would allow the repeal of Water Act 10.95.
Finally, it proposes the issuance of a law on national spatial planning.
The report also stresses the need to strengthen the water police resources by using drones and remote detection techniques, which would reduce costs.
It also recommends intensifying efforts to detect water leakage and ensure the maintenance of urban and rural networks. In order to solve the problem of water leakage, it puts forward an integrated policy involving all sectors and aims to significantly reduce these water losses.
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