The treatment and reuse of wastewater in Morocco is experiencing a significant acceleration. Thanks to an ambitious valorization strategy, the country is able to supply golf courses, maintain urban green spaces, and even support industrial units. However, this momentum conceals a more contrasting reality: rural areas remain excluded from these advancements.
Before the House of Councillors, the Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, presented a detailed overview of liquid sanitation in Morocco. Among the highlighted figures, this one stands out: 30 golf courses are currently irrigated with treated wastewater. A sustainable solution that also benefits 16 urban municipalities for the irrigation of green spaces, as well as six industrial projects.
The total volume of treated and reused water reached 53 million cubic meters in 2024. This figure marks a turning point in the management of the country’s water resources, in a context of increasing pressure on drinking water.
Out of the 385 cities and urban centers included in the sanitation program, 223 are already connected to the networks, benefiting approximately 21 million citizens. Work is underway in 72 other localities, covering a population of 1.25 million inhabitants. By 2034, the program aims to integrate an additional 90 centers.
But while urban areas are making progress, rural areas remain largely neglected. Out of 1,207 rural centers identified, only 43 currently have a complete sanitation service, affecting barely 105,000 people. However, projects have started in 170 other rural localities, aiming to improve the living conditions of an additional 442,000 inhabitants.
The financial effort made is commensurate with the stakes. By the end of 2024, cumulative investments in the sector exceeded 48.5 billion dirhams. Of this amount, 25.33 billion have already been mobilized, while 23.25 billion are in the implementation phase. The Liquid and Solid Sanitation Fund contributed 17.67 billion dirhams, of which 11.67 billion have been effectively committed. Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior injected 3.1 billion dirhams through the municipal share of VAT, of which 2.2 billion have already been used.
The future looks even more ambitious. The 2025-2034 program plans for an investment of 56 billion dirhams, distributed among 389 ongoing projects and 694 new projects to be launched. This programming is part of the dynamic of advanced regionalization, as stated during the national conference in December 2024.
Despite the progress made, the challenge remains immense: to ensure that rural areas are no longer the poor relation of sanitation and to guarantee all Moroccans equitable access to essential services.