Desalination Plant in Sidi Ifni: A Proactive Project to Secure Water Supply Amid Climate Changes
The desalination plant in Sidi Ifni has been operational since April, marking a significant step towards ensuring the local population’s access to drinking water amidst the challenges posed by climate change and dwindling traditional water resources. This project is part of the national program for drinking water supply and irrigation for 2020-2027, which was signed before His Majesty King Mohammed VI on January 13, 2020.
The main objective of this structured project is to overcome the issue of recurring water shortages experienced in the region by addressing the problem of water scarcity through an innovative solution: desalination. Utilizing modern techniques based on reverse osmosis, the plant meets the water needs of Sidi Ifni and several neighboring centers in the Tiznit province, sourcing from five marine wells with a combined flow rate of 230 liters per second.
The facility, built on an area of 2,000 hectares, is equipped with advanced facilities, including a raw water reservoir with a capacity of 1,500 cubic meters and a treated water reservoir with a capacity of 1,000 cubic meters, along with sand filters and a laboratory for water quality monitoring. The total cost of the project, including connection pipes, is approximately 300 million dirhams, with a production capacity of 8,640 cubic meters per day, which equals a flow rate of 100 liters per second.
The project has had a positive impact on the local population, with many citizens praising its immediate effects on improving living conditions and alleviating water scarcity issues. They emphasized the importance of this plant in ensuring social and economic stability while promoting investment and domestic tourism.
The establishment of this plant reflects the proactive approach adopted by the National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water to secure water supply in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region and bolster its resilience against increasing climate-related challenges, as part of a comprehensive developmental vision that prioritizes water security as a national imperative.
