Moroccan authorities have issued strict instructions to track down those exploiting the kingdom’s groundwater resources illegally.
The Moroccan news site “Hespress” reported that these orders were issued by regional governors and provincial officials to combat encroachments on public water property. Coordinated inspection and monitoring campaigns are being conducted across multiple areas, with the assistance of the Water Police and Water Basin Agencies, which have provided the necessary technical support and information to identify illegal exploitation of public water resources. The law mandates that special permits must be obtained through specific administrative procedures.
According to informed sources cited by the Moroccan website, administrative annexes and local communities have mobilized local officials to collect data on wells and water boreholes within their jurisdiction. This effort is in preparation for compiling detailed reports on the status of public water property, including the nature and type of violations observed during exploitation, and distinguishing between licensed wells, boreholes, and the quantities of water consumed.
The sources confirmed that the gathered information revealed cases of unauthorized or unreported wells owned by individuals and companies. Previous reports by inspection committees from the General Inspectorate of Territorial Administration disclosed serious findings about officials turning a blind eye to the activities of elected officials through companies drilling secret wells using “sondages” (borehole drilling equipment) and failing to verify the accuracy of reports made by local authorities on the status of public water resource exploitation.
It is worth noting that a previous report by the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council revealed an increase in the percentage of unauthorized wells and boreholes in Morocco, reaching up to 80%.
