Morocco’s dam filling rate stood at 27.38% as of August 26, totaling over 4.1 billion cubic meters, according to data from the Ministry of Equipment and Water.
The Loukkos basin led with the highest filling rate of 52.57%, followed by Sebou at 43.96% and Tensift at 43.24%. Conversely, the Ziz-Guir-Rhéris basin recorded a 25.33% filling rate, while Bouregreg in western Morocco stood at 24.20%.
Melouya basin saw its rate fall to 22.46%, Drâa-Oued Noun to 15.32%, and Souss-Massa to 11.53%. The Oum Er-Rbia basin in central Morocco reported the lowest at 4.45%.
These figures come despite heavy rains in southeastern Morocco and the Middle Atlas, which only slightly improved groundwater levels.
Water resources remain below expectations, raising concerns about meeting agricultural, industrial, and urban water needs.
This situation has placed Morocco in a state of “structural water stress,” as highlighted in a concerning report from the World Bank on the Moroccan economy.
To address water scarcity challenges, Morocco has started building 20 seawater desalination plants that are intended to be operational by 2030 to meet its drinking water requirements, according to the Ministry of Equipment and Water.
Over 82% of water in Morocco is utilized for agricultural purposes, underscoring the need for a reevaluation of the current water management model, which is deemed by experts to be antiquated.
While Morocco is already located in one of the most water-scarce regions in the world, climate change has worsened the trend. Between 1961 and 2017, Morocco’s overall rainfall fell by 43% during spring, and 26% in winter.
Experts warn of a growing imbalance between water needs and existing resources. According to data from the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis (MIPA), a think tank, the water deficit is projected to reach 4 to 7 billion cubic meters annually by 2050.