A new initiative entitled National Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation Programme was ordered on January 16, 2020, by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI. Details about the program include the launch of several dams, the first of which was recently inaugurated in the Atlantic coastal region of Essaouira. The Moulay Adderrahmane Dam can store up to 65 million m3 of water and has the potential to irrigate 1300 hectares of farmland that belong to a combined 1200 farmers. Additionally, the supply chain pipes will cover 12 km and there are motions to increase water efficiency by building two irrigation networks totaling 48 km.
Another featured component of the Moulay inauguration dam is the Ksoub Perimeter hydro agricultural development. Its implementation aims to complement the dam’s processes and help improve the working conditions of farmers in the Ida Ougerd, Sidi El Jazouli, and Ounagh communes. It also works in hand with the National goal of supporting farmers to organize themselves into water operator associations.
The National Water project will span a seven-year period and seeks to reduce the stress caused by water supply problems. Particularly in southern, mountainous, and rural regions of the Northern Kingdom, drought frequency and intensity associated with global change has caused thousands of Moroccans to lack access to clean drinking, bathing, and cooking water. Beyond personal care, the barrier to sufficient water supply affects agriculture and other industries.
The construction of the Moulay Abderrahmane Dam is estimated to cost 920 million dirhams (97.2 million dollars). By 2030, the project operators seek to supply over 258,000 Moroccans living in the Essaouira Province. The Moroccan Kingdom has expressed that its reasons for taking on the lofty countrywide goals are to protect its citizens against the clean water crisis.