Water Management in Morocco: Between Dams, Groundwater and New Challenges

A limited resource in an irregular climate

In Morocco, water has never been abundant. The country lies in a semi-arid zone where rainfall remains irregular. Some years are relatively wet. Others experience prolonged droughts.

This variability has always influenced the way water is managed. For several decades, Morocco has chosen to invest in hydraulic infrastructure to secure water supply.

Today, the country has numerous dams that make it possible to store water during rainy periods and mobilize it when demand increases.

Dams, the foundation of water policy

The construction of dams has been one of the pillars of Morocco’s water policy since the 1960s.

These infrastructures serve several important functions:

storing river water
supplying cities with drinking water
irrigating agricultural areas
regulating certain flood episodes

The country now has more than 150 large dams. They play a central role in water supply for many regions.

However, their effectiveness depends heavily on rainfall. During drought years, filling levels can drop significantly.

Groundwater, a heavily used resource

In addition to dams, groundwater is widely used.

In many agricultural regions, wells and boreholes allow farmers to access water when surface resources become insufficient. This practice has developed gradually over the decades.

However, when withdrawals exceed the natural recharge of aquifers, levels decline. This phenomenon is observed in several river basins across the country.