The Marrakech-Safi Water and Sanitation Authority has established a solar drying unit for sewage sludge in Mnabha, approximately 40 km from Marrakech, aimed at enhancing waste management from wastewater treatment. The project represents an investment of around 143 million dirhams and aligns with sustainable environmental management practices.
Located on a 10-hectare site, the infrastructure harnesses solar energy to dry sludge from treatment plants. This eco-friendly process boosts the dryness rate from about 22% to nearly 80%, making energy recovery possible.
Once dried, the sludge can be reused as alternative fuel, especially in cement and brick factories, thereby reducing its environmental impact while creating a new industrial resource.
In 2025, the unit processed more than 76,000 tons of sludge from both the Marrakech treatment plant and former storage sites. The goal is to gradually eliminate accumulated stocks while ensuring continuous processing of new volumes produced.
The facility is equipped with 28 drying greenhouses and has a processing capacity of approximately 45 tons per day, making it a key component of the city’s sanitation system.
Since September 2023, the unit has been operated directly by the teams of the Marrakech-Safi Water and Sanitation Authority, following an initial phase managed by specialized contractors. This transition reflects the growing expertise of local teams in managing innovative technical infrastructures.
Through this project, the Marrakech-Safi Water and Sanitation Authority aims to reduce the environmental footprint of liquid sanitation while developing waste recovery solutions. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to modernize public infrastructure and enhance the sustainability of water and sanitation services in the region.