Marrakech's New Water Supply Initiative
The city of Marrakech is on the brink of acquiring a new source of drinking water, as the completion of the desalination project that transfers treated seawater from the coastal city of Safi draws near. This project is expected to be operational by the end of July, promising to alleviate the mounting pressure on the city's water resources. Marrakech, notably one of the regions most affected by drought in recent years, stands to benefit significantly from this initiative.
Overseen by the regional multi-service company, Marrakech - Safi, this ambitious project aims to transport approximately 100 million cubic meters of desalinated water annually from Safi to Marrakech. The water will travel through a network of steel pipes stretching over 185 kilometers, with a flow rate of 3.2 cubic meters per second. This monumental undertaking, which has an estimated cost of 4.2 billion dirhams funded by the state and the Ministry of Interior, comes at a critical time when the Marrakech - Safi region is facing increasing pressure on its water resources due to consecutive years of drought, coupled with rising water demand driven by population growth and the economic and tourism activities thriving in the city.
The desalinated water produced by the Safi plant, operated by the Office Chérifien des Phosphates group, will reach Marrakech through three main pumping stations. Once it arrives, the water will be stored and directed into the distribution network that supplies various neighborhoods throughout the city. Additionally, a second pipeline, which spans approximately 35 kilometers, will ensure that the reservoirs along the Ourika road, with a storage capacity of 85,000 cubic meters, are adequately supplied, thus guaranteeing a consistent distribution of water throughout Marrakech.
As reported by aljarida24.ma.
