Challenges and Strategies for Managing Water Resources in Morocco Comparative Experiences Around the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Despite some achievements in the mobilization of water, drinking water, and irrigation, Morocco, a country with much of the territory is subject to a semi arid to arid climate, still faces major challenges for the management of water resources, such as scarcity of water, frequent and long term droughts, floods and flooding exacerbated by inappropriate human settlement, impacts of climate change, overexploitation of groundwater resources and pollution. These challenges are exacerbated by rapid changes in water needs, and the difficulty of following this development with adequate financial means. To maintain a proper balance between supply and demand of water, the Moroccan government has recently adopted a strategy consisting of strengthening water supply, while acting on water demand, and scheduling measures to improve governance of water. A comparison is given for the results of the water policy in Morocco with those of some countries around the Mediterranean.