Water stress : Morocco closes hammams in Casablanca and Marrakech for three days

Authorities in Marrakech and Casablanca have decided to close traditional Moroccan public baths, or hammams, for three days a week in response to the effects of drought and water stress.

In the metropolis, hammam owners have been informed of the obligation to shut down from Monday to Wednesday of each week. In the ochre city, the wilaya of the region held a meeting on Saturday August 10 to uphold the decisions concerning both public baths and car washes.

At the same time, local actions will be carried out to raise awareness of the water crisis and the management of water scarcity. Last January, a circular from the region's wali, Mohamed Mhidia, decreed similar measures, with the aim of rationalizing available resources. Three days a week were set aside for drinking water cuts at car washes and hammams.

The Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, had previously called on the walis and governors of Morocco's regions to take measures at local level to reduce drinking water consumption, combat wastage of this vital resource and rationalize its use. These measures are also being taken in view of the filling rate of water dams, impacted by years of drought.

In Morocco, the government is seeking to remedy this problem by turning to seawater desalination. Last June, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan launched the construction of a unit linked to Casablanca, in the province of El Jadida. Annual production is estimated at 300 million cubic meters, benefiting a population of nearly 7.5 million.