RABAT, Morocco (Enmaeya News) — In a bold move to counter worsening water shortages, Morocco has launched a $728 million infrastructure project dubbed the "water highway," aimed at diverting surplus water from the north to the densely populated cities of Rabat and Casablanca.

The initiative, which began operations in August 2024, has already delivered over 700 million cubic meters of drinking water, helping avert a potential crisis for some 12 million residents. The system includes a diversion dam in Kenitra and a 67-kilometer underground canal.

Authorities plan to expand the pipeline southward to Marrakesh by tapping additional rivers in northern Morocco.

While the project offers short-term relief, experts warn that climate change and prolonged drought could jeopardize its sustainability. Morocco’s annual water supply has plunged from 18 billion cubic meters in the 1980s to just 5 billion today. Rainfall levels remain 75% below average, despite occasional storms.

Researchers caution that today’s “surplus” water may vanish as rising temperatures and shrinking precipitation reduce river flows. They urge the government to invest in desalination and efficient irrigation to safeguard the country’s long-term water security.