The management of water resources in Morocco is becoming more and more difficult; over the past 20 years, less water has been made accessible per person due to both population growth and decreased water availability, both of which are attributed to rainfall and overuse of groundwater. Over the past few decades, droughts have become more frequent, which has caused the nation's economic growth rates to fluctuate. A severe drought that has been going on for three years in the Souss Massa and other river basins in the kingdom has led to rivalry between users that will only get worse in future drier periods. Water withdrawals in the basin are at or over capacity. Groundwater abstraction is becoming more popular among users, raising the risk of overuse of natural resources. 

The water accounts created for this study offer a set of baseline indicators that may be utilized to find potential solutions to increase water availability and make effective use of the water that is currently accessible in a sustainable way. 

The report was produced in the context of the CMI-led program on “Water Security Nexus in North Africa: Catalyzing Regional Coordination Around Climate Change, Resilience and Migration”, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). 

Citation: Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) (2020). Water Accounting of the Souss Massa River Basin in Morocco.“The Water Security Nexus in North Africa – Catalyzing Regional Coordination Around Climate Change, Resilience and Migration” Project. Marseille: Center for Mediterranean Integration and UNOPS.