Transforming Liquid Sanitation in Souss-Massa
As of October 2024, the management of the liquid sanitation network in the Souss-Massa region has officially been entrusted to the Société Régionale Multiservices Souss-Massa (SRM-SM). This transfer of responsibility marks a significant step towards developing a comprehensive liquid sanitation master plan (SDAL) that encompasses six prefectures and provinces, stretching from Agadir to Tata, including Taroudant and Tiznit. The ambitious project will require specialized expertise and will necessitate coordination with existing master plans for potable water and electricity supply.
The Souss-Massa region is currently experiencing rapid urbanization, increased pressure on water resources, and heightened demands for pollution control and flood protection. With the delegation of the "liquid sanitation" responsibility to regional multi-service companies, SRM-SM is tasked with the planning, management, and development of wastewater and stormwater networks across this expansive territory.
To achieve this goal, SRM-SM intends to establish a comprehensive Liquid Sanitation Master Plan (SDAL). A consulting engineering firm will conduct a thorough study involving five key missions, ranging from data collection to cost recovery analysis. The study area will cover six prefectures and provinces (Agadir Ida-Outanane, Inezgane-Ait Melloul, Chtouka-Ait Baha, Taroudant, Tata, and Tiznit), including cities, urban centers, rural community headquarters, as well as douars and sub-douars that could connect to collective or autonomous systems.
Currently, SRM-SM operates over 4,000 kilometers of networks, 71 pumping stations, and 19 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), some of which, like M’Zar, have a significant capacity of 144,000 m³/day. This study will also take into account facilities that are still managed by third parties and will be gradually transferred.
A Comprehensive and Technical Approach
The project is intricate and highly technical. The study will unfold in multiple phases, divided into sub-missions based on territorial divisions (each prefecture/province will undergo specific treatment before a regional synthesis is conducted). Execution timelines will vary from two to six months per sub-mission, with an overarching schedule that may extend over several months. Initially, all available data (including plans, assessments, and previous studies) will need to be gathered and analyzed. Furthermore, a diagnosis of pumping stations, storm overflows, WWTPs, industrial discharges, and networks for the reuse of treated water will be conducted.
Based on this data, projections for wastewater and stormwater flows will be established for the years 2030, 2045, and 2055. Additionally, the sizing criteria for facilities will be defined, and the potential for reusing treated water (for green spaces, agriculture, and industry) will be evaluated. Among the various missions, establishing a priority program based on diagnostics will be crucial for addressing critical issues such as problem areas and major dysfunctions.
As the master plan progresses towards the 2045 and 2055 horizons, various options for expanding, strengthening, and restructuring networks will be explored, including stormwater treatment and flood protection measures. The optimal solution will be identified, and an annual investment program will be delineated alongside a renewal policy for facilities based on age and materials.
It is important to note that an industrial pollution abatement strategy will be integrated, and a detailed environmental analysis will be conducted. The final phase will include a cost recovery study, coordinated with potable water and electricity master plan studies, aimed at assessing the financial viability of investments and operations. Demographic and urban development analyses will also be carried out within the framework of the potable water master plan (SDEP).
Overall, the major challenge of this project will be to enhance connection rates (with a target of 95% in urban areas and 80% in rural areas), reduce pollution discharges into the natural environment (with a target of over 90% pollution treatment), eliminate flood-prone areas, and maximize the value of treated wastewater. Given its agricultural plains, tourist coastline, and vulnerable aquifers, the Souss-Massa region stands to gain significantly from effective sanitation systems. This master plan study, which will likely span several months or even years, will lay the groundwork for a multi-year investment totaling several hundred million dirhams.
As reported by leseco.ma.
