Morocco’s “water highway” project redirects surplus water from the Sebou River to the cities of Rabat and Casablanca, addressing urgent water needs due to severe drought. Despite its initial success in mitigating water shortages, experts express concerns about the sustainability of this solution in light of ongoing climate change and high agricultural water demands.
Morocco is investing approximately $728 million to develop a “water highway” aimed at addressing the critical water needs of cities like Rabat and Casablanca by redirecting surplus water from the Sebou River. This initiative is crucial for averting a potential water crisis in the nation’s most populous regions. Future expansions of the project may include supplying water to Marrakesh, indicating a commitment to long-term water security.
Officials assert that the project has successfully mitigated immediate water shortages, protecting around 12 million residents from imminent water scarcity. This project has become particularly relevant after a serious drought left Rabat on the verge of running out of water in late 2023, signaling the urgent need for reliable water sources.
Morocco faces pronounced disparities in rainfall, with 53% of its precipitation occurring in just 7% of the territory. The “water highway” aims to capture surplus flows from northern rivers, traditionally abundant during the rainy season, through the construction of a diversion dam in Kenitra. A 67-kilometre underground canal channels treated water to urban centers.
By early March, the initiative had already delivered over 700 million cubic meters of drinking water to the affected regions. However, experts are skeptical about the sustainability of tapping these northern rivers indefinitely, as the region has endured six consecutive years of drought, drastically reducing annual water supply.
Despite some rainfall in early March, Morocco significantly lags behind its historical averages, suffering from the longest dry cycle in its recorded history. The rising temperatures, exacerbated by climate change, are likely to diminish available water surpluses in the northern basins, a concerning trend noted by climate researchers.
Furthermore, high demand for irrigation in the agricultural sector, which employs nearly one-third of the nation’s workforce, adds pressure to water resources. Researchers suggest that enhancing water-efficient irrigation practices will be essential, given the increasing likelihood of climate-induced issues affecting both rural and urban areas in Morocco.
In summary, while Morocco’s “water highway” project is a proactive response to immediate water shortages, significant concerns about the sustainability of its water supplies persist under the threat of climate change. With predictions indicating intensified pressure on northern water basins, there is an urgent need for a multi-faceted approach that includes advancing irrigation techniques and investing in alternative water sources, such as desalination, to safeguard the country’s long-term water security.
Original Source: www.thedigitalcourier.com
