A recent report from the Global Water Observatory, affiliated with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, highlights an alarming situation in Morocco in 2024. The country is among the African nations recording the lowest surface water levels, illustrating a growing water crisis that calls for urgent measures.
In addition to showing a historically low vegetation index, similar to countries like Zimbabwe and Zambia, Morocco is also ranked among the 11 countries most affected by declining groundwater levels. This situation jeopardizes access to drinking water, food security, and the environmental balance of the country.
The impact of climate change on water resources
The effects of climate change are increasingly visible through the intensification of prolonged droughts and frost episodes that have severely affected agricultural production. In light of this reality, Morocco must rethink its water resource management strategy to ensure long-term resilience.
According to Dr. Omayma Khalil El Fenn, an expert in environmental and hydraulic engineering, a series of measures is essential to mitigate this crisis. Among the proposed solutions are:
- Optimizing agricultural irrigation by generalizing drip irrigation techniques to limit water loss.
- Developing storage infrastructure, including the construction of new dams and the use of artificial groundwater recharge techniques.
- Investing in desalination, relying on renewable energies to produce fresh water from seawater.
- Addressing water leaks by strengthening the maintenance of distribution networks to prevent waste.
- Raising awareness and regulation, training farmers and industries in responsible resource management and imposing restrictions on uncontrolled groundwater extraction.
Towards a national mobilization to face the crisis
Despite the scale of the challenges, the report emphasizes that it is still possible to reverse the trend through a concerted mobilization of public authorities, experts, and citizens. An integrated approach focused on innovation and sustainability is essential to ensure the preservation of water resources in the context of increasing climate pressures.
With the implementation of effective water policies and collective awareness, Morocco could succeed in overcoming this crisis and securing a safer future for its water resources.
With Le Matin