These facilities also include nine desalination plants producing 147 million m3 annually, as well as thousands of wells to extract groundwater, which allows citizens to enjoy continuity of drinking water and meet the water needs related to agriculture, irrigation, industry and renewable energy, he explained in response to a question in the House of Representatives.

The Minister also reviewed the various programs in which Morocco is engaged in water management, including the irrigation of one million hectares, the construction of dams, the supply of drinking water in rural areas, the national program of liquid sanitation and the national water strategy (NWS).

Baraka also emphasized the challenges to be met especially in rural areas in terms of drinking water supply and sanitation systems.

The ratio of water quantity per person reached an average of 606 cubic meters. However, it varies considerably depending on the capacity of the water basins.

In clearer terms, that of the hydraulic basin of Loukkos amounts to 1200 cubic meters, while that of the basin of Bouregreg does not exceed 141 m3, said the Minister, noting that the amount of water per capita against the backdrop of climate change will be reduced between 10% to 20% by 2030 and between 40% to 50% by 2050.

Baraka stressed that the NWS will focus on the development of supply, demand management, preservation and protection of water resources in vulnerable areas and the reduction of water-related risks, whether drought or floods.