Heavy Rainfall Replenishes Water Storage in Morocco’s Dams

Rabat – After dam filling levels shrank to alarmingly low levels this year, the torrential rains that hammered several provinces of Morocco over the last few days has replenished water storage in dams which reached a filling rate of 27.9% on September 10, compared to 26.7% on the same date last year, according to the Equipment and Water Ministry.

Water storage has improved in six water basins out of the 10 in the North African country, the ministry pointed out in a press release, adding that over 263 million m3 were retained by all dams, a volume greater than the annual drinking water requirement of Greater Casablanca.

The Draa Oued Noun water basin and in particular the Mansour Eddahbi dam (near Ouarzazate) retained the largest water input (63 million m3), improving the water storage of this dam by more than 69% compared to last year, the same source noted.

The dams of the Guir-Ziz-Rheris water basin (Errachidia region) largely benefited from the recent rainfall with 60 million m3, it added.

It also noted that the Oum Er Rbiaa water basin, and particularly the Bin El Ouidane dam, as well as the dams of the Moulouya water basin (north-east of Morocco) have retained respectively more than 40 million m3.

The Souss Massa and Sbou water basins also benefited from the recent rainfall with 14.7 mm3 and 12.9 Mm3 respectively.

The ministry recalled, however, that despite the recent rainfall and all the actions taken, the water situation in Morocco remains difficult, urging citizens to avoid waste and use water sparingly.