Inauguration of the M’Zar Wastewater Treatment Plant Extension: A 905 Million Dirham Investment for Water Security
On the occasion of the 27th anniversary of His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s accession to the Throne of His Glorious Ancestors, a significant new project has been launched to enhance the hydraulic infrastructure of the Souss-Massa region. On Friday, July 24, 2026, Saïd Amzazi, the Wali of the Souss-Massa region and governor of the Agadir Ida-Outanane prefecture, along with Mohamed Zaher, governor of the Inzegane-Aït Melloul prefecture, inaugurated the rehabilitation, extension, and operation project of the M’Zar wastewater treatment plant (STEP M’Zar).
The ceremony was attended by the president of the Souss-Massa Territorial Collectives Association, the managing director of the Souss-Massa Regional Multiservices Company (SRM-SM), as well as several elected officials, security representatives, institutional partners, and company executives.
With a total cost of 905 million dirhams, this project is one of the largest wastewater treatment and reuse initiatives in Morocco. It aligns with the national strategy aimed at enhancing water security, preserving conventional water resources, and promoting the reuse of unconventional water resources, all within a context shaped by the impacts of climate change and episodes of drought.
With this extension, the total treatment capacity of the facility now reaches 144,000 m³ per day, up from 78,000 m³ previously. The new unit, which has a capacity of 66,000 m³ per day, also increases the production of treated water for reuse from 30,000 to 66,000 m³ daily, primarily for the irrigation of green spaces in Greater Agadir.
In a statement to MCG24, Abdelmajid Jaâkou, the provincial director of SRM-SM in Inzegane-Aït Melloul, emphasized that STEP M’Zar is one of the most strategic infrastructures of the company. It processes wastewater from all the municipalities of Greater Agadir that fall under the Agadir Ida-Outanane and Inzegane-Aït Melloul prefectures.
He specified that the plant conducts primary and secondary treatment of over 144,000 m³ of wastewater per day, as well as tertiary treatment of 66,000 m³ intended for reuse. According to him, this infrastructure directly contributes to the preservation of conventional drinking water resources by providing a sustainable alternative for irrigating green spaces, in line with national guidelines on water conservation.
“Every cubic meter of treated and reused wastewater represents a saving of potable water and a tangible contribution to preserving this precious resource,” he stated, praising all partners who contributed to the realization of this project.
For his part, Mohamed Abali, head of the wastewater treatment department at SRM-SM, told MCG24 that STEP M’Zar is a reference infrastructure at the regional level. It utilizes the activated sludge process, known for its high performance in treatment.
He noted that the plant achieves a 96% efficiency rate in eliminating chemical parameters and 100% for microbiological parameters, ensuring water quality that meets current standards for reuse in green space irrigation.
He also highlighted that the project includes a sludge valorization unit that produces biogas, which meets nearly 40% of the plant’s electricity needs. This approach helps reduce energy consumption, limit greenhouse gas emissions, and promote the principles of the circular economy and sustainable development.
Through this achievement, the Souss-Massa Regional Multiservices Company reaffirms, alongside its institutional partners, its commitment to structural projects that address the challenges of water stress, environmental protection, and the sustainable securing of water resources, while supporting the development dynamics in the Souss-Massa region.
