In accordance with the High Royal Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God protect him, aimed at ensuring the preservation of the strategic resources of our country, particularly water, and as part of the strategy of the Ministry of Equipment and Water to enhance awareness around water-related issues, the Hydraulic Basin Agency of Oum Er-Rbia is intensifying its efforts to preserve water quality and continue to maintain a sustainable balance of water resources, both surface and underground. The Agency is also committed to limiting the harmful impacts of olive mill waste on the environment, particularly on water resources, in a context where olive cultivation is increasingly prominent, leading to the expansion of oil mills and environmental challenges related to the uncontrolled discharge of waste into the natural environment.
This irresponsible behavior contributes to the pollution of aquifers, waterways, and dams, causing the destruction of aquatic fauna, including fish and algae, and other living organisms. It also weakens river flows, obstructs irrigation channels, damages drainage infrastructures, and degrades landscapes, thus affecting the beauty of several natural sites.
To combat this phenomenon and mitigate its effects, the Hydraulic Basin Agency of Oum Er-Rbia conducts awareness campaigns each year, in coordination with various stakeholders, regarding the dangers associated with olive mill waste and concrete measures to address them. The campaigns take place in the provinces within its area of action, particularly as the harvest season and olive oil production approach.
Among the proposed solutions, the Agency recommends the installation of impermeable basins in oil mills for the evaporation of waste and the treatment of olive residues. At the same time, the Agency actively supports waste management initiatives by providing technical assistance and participating in the financing of certain treatment stations, within the framework of partnership agreements.
The Agency also wishes to remind that owners of oil mills risk severe penalties under Water Law 36-15 if they continue to pollute water resources with their waste. Any violation, whether it concerns direct discharge into waterways or pollution of aquifers, exposes the offender to a fine ranging from 10,000 to 500,000 dirhams.
Therefore, we renew our call to everyone, particularly to oil mill owners, to engage in the efforts made to protect the environment and preserve water resources on one hand, and to rehabilitate the olive oil production sector, which is considered a promising sector for inclusive and sustainable development.