Liquid sanitation is entering an accelerated phase in Morocco. The Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, announced before parliamentarians an ambitious overhaul of the initial timetable, aiming to generalize urban connections by 2029, five years ahead of the planned deadline.
This revision reflects a strong will to address territorial inequalities. Once urban centers are covered, efforts will shift to rural areas, where deficits remain stark. Meanwhile, projects launched under the National Conference on Advanced Regionalization will see their pace intensified.
A total budget of 56 billion dirhams has been allocated for the period from 2025 to 2034. Of this amount, 27 billion dirhams will be used to complete the 389 ongoing projects, while 29 billion dirhams will finance 694 new operations, with a particular focus on the reuse of treated wastewater.
Notably, progress has been made in this area: in 2024, the country recycled 53 million cubic meters of wastewater, primarily for irrigation of green spaces and golf courses in 16 municipalities. This system will be expanded to 18 golf courses and 40 municipalities, with the introduction of industrial uses.
Since 2019, investments in sanitation have reached nearly 49 billion dirhams, with more than half already executed. The state has contributed through a dedicated fund amounting to 17.7 billion dirhams, while local authorities have provided 3.1 billion dirhams through their share of VAT.
These commitments have enabled 223 cities and urban centers to be equipped with an operational sanitation network, serving 21 million inhabitants. To date, 72 construction sites are underway, and another 90 are scheduled, with the urban connection rate already approaching 85%.
However, in rural areas, the gap remains glaring: only 43 centers out of 1,207 are equipped, serving barely 105,000 inhabitants. The ministry plans to extend the network to an additional 170 centers, potentially increasing coverage to about 420,000 people.
The Integrated National Program for Liquid Sanitation and Wastewater Reuse, launched in 2019, sets ambitious targets: 90% urban connection, 80% in rural areas, and a reuse of 100 million cubic meters of wastewater by 2027—with an expected increase to 537 million cubic meters by 2040.
The objective is clear: to make liquid sanitation a universal right, not a privilege reserved for cities.
With L’Économiste.
