As summer reaches its peak, the Moroccan government is once again sounding the alarm over the country’s water situation. According to data as of July 7, 2025, the filling rate of national reservoirs does not exceed 37.4%, equating to approximately 4.3 billion cubic meters of stored water. This is a concerning situation that the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, addressed during a meeting of the steering committee for the National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation 2020-2027 (PNAEPI 20-27).
### A Summer Season Under High Tension
Despite some signs of improvement compared to previous months, the level of reserves remains insufficient to ensure a secure supply, especially during the summer, a peak consumption period. Thus, the government emphasizes the necessity of responsible water management, calling for awareness campaigns and urging the continuation of emergency measures, particularly in vulnerable rural areas.
The meeting in Rabat provided an opportunity to assess the progress of various projects under the PNAEPI, in line with royal directives concerning water sovereignty.
### Major Projects and Interconnection Initiatives
Several key infrastructures are currently under construction, including two interconnection projects between basins: one between Sebou and Bouregreg, and the other between the dams of Dar Khrofa and Oued Makhazine. These hydraulic links are strategic for balancing water availability between surplus and deficit regions.
Between 2021 and 2025, eight major dams have been filled, thus enhancing the national storage capacity. Concurrently, revisions of programming for small dams and medium reservoirs in high rainfall areas have been agreed upon, in order to better align investment efforts with climatic realities.
### Desalination and Water Reuse: Future Directions
The government is also focusing on accelerating desalination projects, with a targeted capacity of 1.7 billion cubic meters per year by 2030. These installations are vital, particularly for supporting coastal regions where demographic and economic pressures are high.
Another strategy involves the valorization of treated wastewater for agricultural purposes, a major initiative to alleviate the demand for conventional water, especially in the agricultural sector, which is the country’s largest consumer.
### Coordination Between Agriculture and Water Required
During this working session, Aziz Akhannouch urged the relevant ministries and institutions to remain fully mobilized for the rigorous implementation of the program. He particularly stressed the need for better alignment between agricultural policies and water policies in a context of resource scarcity.
Present at the meeting were several key ministers—Abdelouafi Laftit, Nizar Baraka, Ahmed El Bouari, and Fouzi Lekjaa—as well as the Director General of ONEE, Tarik Hamane. This sent a strong signal that the issue of water is now at the heart of the state’s strategic priorities.
In the face of worsening climatic challenges, Morocco is racing against time to secure its water resources. The path is laid out, but its success will depend on the collective and sustained commitment of all stakeholders.