Drought crisis: Morocco's ambitious desalination plans risks environmental costs

A new report by the French magazine Vert Eco argues that Morocco’s reliance on seawater desalination to address its ongoing six-year drought and water shortage could be disastrous for its environment and eco system.

While desalination is increasingly seen as a vital solution to Morocco’s water crisis, the report raises concerns about its potential environmental impact. It highlights that the desalination process produces a byproduct called brine—a concentrated solution of salt and chemicals—which is discharged back into the ocean after treatment.

Julie Trottier, a research director at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), warned that the brine can alter the salt concentration in coastal ecosystems over time. “In the long term, it affects the salt concentration in the coastal system,” Trottier said. She added that the brine can also lower oxygen levels in the ocean, compromising its ability to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) and affecting marine life.

The report suggests that this reduction in oxygen could impact the life expectancy, immune systems, and reproduction of marine species. “We are destroying areas that we should be protecting,” Trottier said, advocating for a halt to desalination efforts and allowing natural restoration.

Additionally, Vert Eco notes that desalination is an energy-intensive process, largely dependent on electricity from fossil fuels. According to a study by the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri), desalination contributes approximately 120 million tons of CO2 emissions globally each year, comparable to the emissions from the textile industry in the European Union.

Despite these concerns, Morocco is taking steps to mitigate the environmental impact of desalination. The country is developing a new desalination plant in Casablanca that will be powered entirely by renewable energy sources.

Trottier criticized desalination as a counterproductive measure against climate change, arguing that it exacerbates global warming. Rising temperatures, she noted, lead to reduced rainfall, faster evaporation of groundwater, and an increased risk of drought.