Morocco in the era of desalination: Towards a major change in water policy

Morocco in the era of desalination

Abstract

After making significant progress in mobilizing its conventional water resources and experiencing the adverse effects of recent drought cycles on its surface and groundwater levels, Morocco has had to adapt its water policy to incorporate the global desalination ecosystem. Due to its high investment costs, Morocco initially limited the seawater and brackish water desalination to small units that provided freshwater to underserved Saharan urban centers. However, faced with the dizzying increase in demand from different water users, and to avoid sliding towards shortages, it has become inevitable to adopt desalination to balance regional water balances. The large-scale actions carried out recently or planned in the short and medium term announce Morocco's desire to forcefully reorient its strategic water plan to integrate the global desalination market.