Morocco: The Desalinated Water Transfer Project Between Safi and Marrakech Set to Become Operational Soon to Enhance Water Security
Desalinated Water Transfer Project Between Safi and Marrakech Nears Operation Phase
The project for transferring desalinated water between Safi and Marrakech is approaching its commissioning phase, with construction reaching its final stage. This strategic infrastructure is part of the national policy aimed at strengthening Morocco’s water security and addressing the effects of drought by utilizing unconventional water resources.
Regarded as one of the most significant hydraulic projects in the Kingdom, the initiative will annually transport nearly 100 million cubic meters of desalinated water to Marrakech and surrounding areas. The water will be produced at the Safi seawater desalination plant and transported through a pipeline network spanning approximately 185 kilometers, thereby helping to alleviate pressure on traditional water resources, which have been severely impacted by consecutive years of drought.
According to available data, construction progress has now surpassed 98%, paving the way for upcoming operations. This project represents a new milestone in Morocco’s strategy for inter-basin water transfer and the development of desalination plants to secure the supply for regions most vulnerable to water stress.
The infrastructure includes an integrated network of steel pipelines, pumping stations, and reservoirs designed to ensure the effective delivery of desalinated water from the Atlantic coast to Marrakech, where water demand is continually rising due to population growth, tourism development, and economic activity.
This connection marks a significant evolution in water resource management in Morocco. Inland cities will no longer rely solely on dams and rainfall but will also benefit from alternative solutions based on seawater desalination and its transfer through modern infrastructures.
The project is part of a series of major hydraulic initiatives launched by the Kingdom to enhance interconnection between water basins. Among them is the water transfer project between the Sebou and Bouregreg basins, which already helps secure potable water supply for the Rabat-Casablanca corridor, along with other projects aimed at ensuring a better distribution of water resources nationwide.
According to several observers, these investments reflect a strategic evolution in water policy in Morocco, founded on diversifying supply sources, developing seawater desalination, reusing treated wastewater, and strengthening interconnections between basins to improve the country’s resilience to climate change.
The commissioning of the Safi-Marrakech project is expected to sustainably enhance water security in the Marrakech-Safi region, ensuring a new reliable and enduring source of drinking water while supporting the needs associated with the economic and social development of the area.
