2024-04-24 13:06:00
The water crisis in Morocco is worsening with the alarming drop in the level of reservoirs at the Al Massira dam, one of the largest in the country. Satellite images reveal a worrying drying up of the reservoir, which now contains only 3% of its maximum capacity. And this in just six years, between 2018 and 2024. This situation threatens the country’s food and water security, comments the daily Al Ahdath Al Maghribia in its issue of Thursday April 25.
The dam is a vital source of water for the entire region. It is the second largest source of drinking water. Its role is also essential in irrigation. Satellite images captured by the Copernicus 2 satellite show how the environment of the once green dam has transformed over the last six years into a desert area, reflecting the extent of the drought from which the region and the country are suffering. in general.
Soil drying affects the entire region between Casablanca and Marrakech. The degradation is spectacular and heartbreaking. This situation in which the dam finds itself today, indicates the daily, is due to several factors. First the drought. Morocco has, in fact, been experiencing a period of persistent drought for several years, which has considerably reduced the volume of water in the dam.
Then there is the phenomenon of evaporation. High, sometimes extreme temperatures and wind contribute to increased evaporation of water from the dam.
Finally, there is another no less devastating phenomenon, siltation. The accumulation of sediment at the bottom of the dam reduces its storage capacity.
There is no need to recall that the drop in the water level of the Al Massira dam has serious consequences on Morocco’s food and water security. Indeed, the dam is a vital source of water for agriculture, industry and drinking water. Reducing its storage capacity risks leading to water shortages in cities and countryside, which might have disastrous economic and social consequences and portend an acute water crisis.
Faced with this crisis, specialists believe that it is urgent to take measures to preserve Morocco’s water resources. The latter notably recommend the rationalization of water consumption. In this sense, it is necessary to raise citizens’ awareness of the importance of reducing their water consumption and adopting economical behavior.
They also discuss the rehabilitation of dams, noting the importance of implementing dam rehabilitation programs to combat siltation and improve their efficiency. They also highlight the development of more efficient modern irrigation techniques, such as drip irrigation, making it possible to reduce water consumption for agriculture.
There is also talk of investment in seawater desalination projects, which might constitute an alternative source of drinking water for populations in coastal areas.
Par Amyne Asmlal
04/24/2024 at 9:06 p.m.
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