Strengthening Water Supply in Casablanca-Settat
The Casablanca-Settat region is experiencing a persistent water pressure crisis, prompting the local authorities to expedite the implementation of accessible solutions to secure drinking water supply. The Regional Water Authority (SRM) is at the forefront of this initiative, deploying 27 monobloc desalination and demineralization stations, with a total investment of 400 million dirhams. This strategic move aims to enhance the resilience of various territories, especially the most vulnerable areas, ensuring a reliable supply of potable water.
In a context where the demand for water resources is steadily rising, ensuring a stable drinking water supply transcends mere infrastructure development; it has become a necessity for territorial continuity, social cohesion, and resilience. The SRM Casablanca-Settat is actively overseeing a program dedicated to the installation of these 27 compact desalination units, which are projected to have an annual capacity of 8.19 million cubic meters. This initiative is primarily funded by the Ministry of Interior and the Council of the Casablanca-Settat Region, with a clear focus on reducing water vulnerability in areas often subjected to recurrent supply stress.
A Decentralized Approach to Water Emergency
In light of the enduring water stress situation, reliance solely on large-scale infrastructure projects is no longer sufficient. While such initiatives are essential, they must now be complemented by intermediate solutions that can be rapidly deployed in areas with the most pressing needs. This is precisely the advantage of the monobloc stations, designed as compact units that can be mobilized quickly and adapted to diverse local contexts.
According to the SRM Casablanca-Settat, the project is already more than 80% complete. Project manager Mouhcine Moursli emphasizes the significant efforts by teams across various provinces and prefectures to secure drinking water supply for the entire region. The objective is clear: to minimize the risk of supply disruptions, better distribute available resources, and enhance response capacity in the face of potential crises. This strategy is particularly crucial in a diverse region like Casablanca-Settat, which encompasses major urban centers, rapidly growing peri-urban areas, and rural communities. In such spaces, resilience relies heavily on increasing local support points.
As of now, 19 of the planned stations are already operational, strategically located across several provinces, including Settat, El-Jadida, Berrechid, Nouaceur, and Sidi Bennour. Since the program's launch, these facilities have produced over 2.1 million cubic meters of potable water, highlighting the tangible benefits of this initiative. Given the dwindling supply of conventional water resources, each additional cubic meter produced is of strategic importance.
The ongoing deployment also underscores that the project is not solely urban-centric; it includes territories that are often overlooked in large investment schemes but are equally vulnerable to water stress. This includes rural municipalities like Ouled Ghanem and Ouled Aïssa in El-Jadida Province.
Looking ahead, the project is set to gain further momentum with eight additional stations currently under construction. Five of these are nearing completion and are expected to be operational by the end of April 2026, including facilities in Sidi Rahal, Mohammédia, Deroua, and Sidi-Hajjaj. These new installations will significantly enhance coverage and increase capacity in identified pressure points. Furthermore, three more stations are being built in Benslimane Province, specifically in the commune of Mansouria, which will be the largest station in the program with a capacity of 60 liters per second, slated to be operational by the end of May 2026.
The technology employed in these stations is crucial as they utilize reverse osmosis to treat seawater and brackish water, producing high-quality potable water. This method has become increasingly recognized as a viable solution in regions facing a decline in surface and groundwater resources. These units are designed for agile operations, offering a swift response compared to heavy infrastructures that could take years to build. In contexts dominated by urgency, the ability to deploy quickly is a decisive advantage, allowing for immediate intervention where needs are most critical while maintaining a quality level that meets potable water standards.
The SRM Casablanca-Settat also emphasizes the ecological and innovative aspects of these installations. In a country where water management has become a key public priority, the combination of technical efficiency, rapid execution, and territorial adaptability is of particular significance.
As reported by leseco.ma.
