A new report by the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS), a Moroccan think tank, has called for structural reforms to address the country's chronic water stress. The report, released in May 2026, highlights that Morocco can no longer rely solely on supply-side solutions like desalination and dam construction.
The report identifies key issues including illegal water withdrawals (forages illégaux), siltation of dams, and water-intensive crops as major contributors to water waste and misuse. It emphasizes the need for demand management and regulatory enforcement.
According to the PCNS, Morocco faces a structural water deficit exacerbated by climate change and population growth. The report recommends a shift towards integrated water resource management, including better pricing, agricultural reforms, and stricter penalties for illegal water use.
While the report does not provide specific new data, it builds on known challenges: Morocco's per capita water availability has fallen below the absolute water scarcity threshold of 500 cubic meters per year, and dam filling rates have fluctuated dramatically in recent years.
