90.74% of Moroccan beaches meet water quality standards, according to the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development.
Thus, 382 sites were declared to have microbiological quality in compliance with the requirements of Moroccan standard NM.03.7.199, the ministry pointed out in a report entitled “Surveillance of Water and Sand Quality in Moroccan Beaches”, whose results were presented at a press conference on Friday in Rabat.
39 sites (9.26%) were declared non-compliant for swimming in 2023, due to the impact of wastewater discharges and/or the high concentration of swimmers, combined with inadequate hygiene infrastructures and climate change.
These 39 sites are spread across 22 beaches in five coastal regions: Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Casablanca-Settat, Souss-Massa and Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab.
To address the threats posed by various sources of pollution, the report recommends strengthening wastewater treatment systems in coastal areas, maintaining and upgrading beach infrastructure and sanitation systems in beaches, as well as implementing management measures recommended in the swimming water profiles.
The document noticed a “slight improvement” in the situation of beaches this year, pointing out that “the biggest challenge” remains trash, notably plastics (90%), which requires extra measures to improve swimming water and beach quality.
The report highlighted the importance of existing instruments to assist citizens in determining the quality of swimming waters, including a smartphone application (Iplages).