Morocco’s “water highway” a short-term success but experts warn of future risks

In August 2023, Morocco launched a $728 million “water highway” to address its growing water crisis. The project diverts surplus water from the Sebou River to a dam in Kenitra, where it is treated and transported through a 42-mile underground canal to supply drinking water to Rabat and Casablanca. By early March, it had delivered more than 24.7 billion cubic feet of water to the two cities, the AFP reports, citing Moroccan officials.

"Transferring surplus water from the Sebou basin in the north allowed us to prevent about 12 million people from running out of water," said Mahjoub Lahrache, a senior agriculture ministry official.

The project was a crucial intervention after Rabat’s main reservoir nearly dried up in late 2023, exposing Morocco’s deepening water crisis. The country has endured six consecutive years of drought, with its annual water supply reportedly dropping from 18 billion cubic meters in the 1980s to just 5 billion today.

Morocco plans to expand the project south to Marrakesh, but climate experts warn of potential risks.

“Future scenarios indicate that northern water basins will be significantly more affected by climate change than those in the south over the next 60 years," water and climate researcher Nabil El Mocayd told AFP. "What is considered surplus today may no longer exist in the future due to this growing deficit."

He and other experts stress the need for desalination and improved irrigation methods to ensure long-term water security.