Morocco continues to face an alarming water crisis, marked by a drastic reduction in water resources. Between 2018 and 2024, the country recorded annual water deficits reaching worrying records, increasing pressure on available reserves. These figures reflect a concerning reality.
### A dizzying drop in water resources
According to data from the platform **Maa Dialna**, water inputs have decreased dramatically over the past seven years. Annual deficits have followed one another, reaching as much as **-85% in 2021**. Total resources, estimated at **10.8 billion m³ in 2018**, have fallen to only **3.37 billion m³ in 2024**. After a modest recovery in 2021, with 5.3 billion m³, volumes have again dropped to critical levels, notably **2 billion m³ in 2022**, marking a dark year for national hydrology.
### Dams, witnesses of a continuous decline
Moroccan dams, once drivers of storage and regulation of water resources, are now chronically under capacity. Between 2018 and 2024, their reserves halved, dropping from **8.9 billion m³** to only **4.4 billion m³**. Although a temporary improvement was noted in 2021, when reserves reached **6.5 billion m³**, the overall trend remains alarming.
### Priority to drinking water, sacrifices for agriculture
To cope with the shortage, Morocco has intensified its efforts to ensure access to drinking water, an absolute priority in this context of water stress. Between 2018 and 2024, the distribution of drinking water increased from **743 million m³** to **1.06 billion m³**, thanks to solutions such as seawater desalination and increased exploitation of groundwater.
However, this reorientation has had consequences for the agricultural sector, the main consumer of water. Volumes allocated to irrigation have significantly decreased, jeopardizing certain crops and exacerbating the difficulties faced by farmers.
### Crisis management for an uncertain future
In the face of urgency, Moroccan authorities are multiplying initiatives, but the challenges remain colossal. The ongoing erosion of water resources, symbolized by the critical state of the **Al Massira** dam, requires sustainable solutions and stricter management of usage. With declining reserves and rising needs, Morocco is at a decisive turning point in its fight against water stress.
With [Le360](https://fr.le360.ma/societe/stress-hydrique-ces-chiffres-qui-font-froid-dans-le-dos_CIRX43R6GRANJAUMMQO5P4EPCA/)