As Morocco enters its seventh consecutive year of drought and continues to grapple with a severe water crisis, the kingdom’s dams are only 28.47% full, reflecting a total volume of 4.794 billion cubic meters.
While this level is an improvement over the same time in 2023, when they were at only 23.29% (3.754 billion cubic meters), the situation remains critical. Climate change and the lack of significant rainfall are further straining the country’s water resources, threatening agriculture, livestock, and potable water supplies.
The absence of significant rainfall as the year closes is exacerbating fears about the impact on the upcoming agricultural season. Minimal precipitation over recent months has raised concerns that achieving 2.5 million hectares of cereal cultivation, which would be normal under optimal conditions, is unlikely.
The lack of water is also affecting vegetation cover essential for livestock and is putting additional pressure on underground water tables and reserves, intensifying the overall water stress.
The ongoing decline in water reserves is not only jeopardizing irrigation and agricultural productivity but also the provision of drinking water to the public. Morocco’s reliance on dwindling water resources underscores the urgent need for alternative solutions.
Desalination of seawater may be one viable option for Morocco to address its water crisis, but not for the long term. Building desalination facilities demands significant investment and meticulous planning to anticipate rising demand and mitigate the worsening water scarcity.
Nevertheless, hopes are being pinned on upcoming expected rain that could help ease the crisis. But without adequate precipitation, Morocco faces the possibility of its annual per capita water availability dropping to a critical level of 300 cubic meters.