The latest rains recorded in several regions of Morocco have contributed to a semblance of an increase in the filling rate of the main dams in the Kingdom (1.3% more compared to the beginning of the month), according to data from the bulletin of the Ministry of l ‘Equipment and Water on the daily situation of large dams. Nevertheless, these results are not able to combat the water stress that the Kingdom is currently experiencing.
Indeed, it is specified that the level of dam reserves on Friday 14 October amounted to 4086.8 Mm3, ie a filling rate of 25.3%. This rate thus marks a slight increase compared to the beginning of October when it was 24%. However, compared to the same period last year, this rate remains very low. As of October 14, 2021, dam reserves had reached 5,962.7 million m3, i.e. a filling rate of 37%.
The Al Wahda dam, with a normal water retention capacity of 3,522.3 Mm3, is doing well given the country’s exceptional water situation with its 1,498.9 million m3 of reserves, i.e. a rate of filling of 42.6%, against 61.9%, in the same period in 2021. The Oued El Makhazine Dam with a normal retention capacity of almost six times less (673 Mm3) reached on October 14 a volume of 308 million m3, i.e. an estimated filling rate of 45.8% against 69.7% a year earlier.
A semblance of good health for these two infrastructures therefore, with regard to two mythical dams, almost silted up, Bin El Ouidane, or Al Massira, the second largest dam in Morocco. They display respectively for a normal retention capacity of 1215 Mm3 and 2657 Mm3, a filling rate of 8.2% and 4.3% and a water retention of 99.5 Mm3 and 114.6 Mm3. Idriss 1er with a capacity of 1129.6 Mm3 conveys the logic of this month of October with a water reserve of 271.2 Mm3 and a rate of 24% for 551.6 Mm3 and a rate of 48.8% for the same date in 2021, thus reflecting the current water situation in the Kingdom. In view of this overview of the health of the country’s main dams, it goes without saying and without embarrassment that Morocco remains threatened by a real problem of water scarcity linked to drought.
This issue of water, the Sovereign made it a priority alongside that of investment during his speech to the deputies on the occasion of the opening of the first session of the second legislative year of the eleventh legislature. , last Friday. King Mohammed VI has drawn up a three-pronged roadmap, the use of innovations and new technologies in the field of water saving, special attention to the rational exploitation of groundwater and the preservation of groundwater groundwater and finally over waste, water not being an issue exclusively dedicated to a single sector. Also, it must be the subject of everyone’s concerns, for an appropriate water saving.
It is that water stress has indeed become a structural problem in Morocco and it has taken on enormous proportions, hence the need for lasting solutions through strict measures to make up for the laxity of the last two decades observed with regard to the question. It’s an open secret, the Kingdom is a semi-arid country with rainfall cycles of 400-600 millimeters on average, year after year. Ranked among countries with high water stress (23th place out of a total of 164 countries in the ranking of the World Resources Institute (WRI), today more than ever the Kingdom is in a situation of water demand greater than the available supply.
A component on which King Mohammed VI effectively insisted through his message to the Nation “diligent treatment of the water issue, in all its dimensions, and in particular a break with all forms of waste or anarchic and irresponsible exploitation of this vital resource“. Secondly, it will be a question of “strengthen the proactive water policy, and catch up in this area“, recommended the Sovereign. It is therefore time to go on the offensive in the management of our water resources and to fully enroll in the National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation (PNAEPI) 2022-2027 already in place.