Morocco: SPI-Water conclusions from the Sebou River Basin in Morocco

Morocco has today water resources of about 700 m3 per capita/year, which is below the scarcity threshold of 1000 m3/per capita/year set by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). Studies show that this level might
decrease below 500 m3 per capita/year by year 2020. Water degradation costs Morocco 1.2% of its GDP.
The Sebou River Basin is one of Morocco's most populated hydrographical basins, with 6.2 million inhabitants (2004), who account for 20% of the total population. Some of the main water management issues affecting the Sebou RB are: pollution of surface water, overexploitation of groundwater as well as the loss of freshwater
ecosystems and their functions.

Technical visits of ABHS experts have been organised to the Júcar RB (Spain) and to several organisations in France, where the focus was laid on the solution of the groundwater overexploitation and monitoring activities.
After a search in the WISE-RTD web portal the partners agreed on elaborating the following project proposals for ABHS: "Use of biological indicators for surface water monitoring" and "Establishment of an aquifer contract".