Ain Beni Mutahar, Mellouya agency faces depletion of aquifer with drastic measures

Economy of the East

The 19th International Water Conference, held in Marrakech from December 1 to 5, 2025, witnessed a scientific and institutional debate on the challenges associated with the increasing pressure on underground resources in Morocco, especially in light of the successive drought years and the decline in natural recharge rates. The event was a platform for three water basin agencies to present their strategies for managing groundwater reserves, including the Mellouya Basin Agency, which presented details of its program for the Ain Beni Mather aquifer, the only water source in the eastern region of the Gersif and Jerada regions.

The Ain Beni Mutahar aquifer is a fossil aquifer with high water quality, with salinity levels ranging from 0.5 to 2 grams per liter and depths varying from 50 to 800 meters. This aquifer is the main source of drinking water in the region, in addition to its use in agricultural activities, making any disturbance in its hydrological balance a direct impact on the water and social stability of the region.

Since the water crisis in the Mellouya Basin in 2021, an institutional approach has emerged regarding the possibility of connecting this layer to potable water networks to cover the growing needs of the cities of Oujda and Taourirt. However, the subsequent hydrological assessment confirmed a clear imbalance in the balance of its resources, as an annual recharge rate of 61 million cubic meters was recorded, compared to a utilization rate of 72 million cubic meters, with an annual deficit of 11 million cubic meters. This imbalance was gradually reflected in the level of the layer, as technical data records an annual decrease in the water level of approximately 0.4 meters since the turn of the millennium.

In light of these alarming indicators, in 2024, the Mellouya Agency took a decision to prohibit any new drilling in the Ain Beni Mutahar aquifer, especially in the area known for artesian flow. This decision comes in the context of controlling the demand for groundwater and avoiding further pressure on a resource that takes long periods of time to restore its natural balance.

Today, the agency is working to frame the exploitation of the aquifer under a participatory management contract that is in its final stages, based on a rigorous monitoring program that aims to follow the evolution of the water level and consumption behavior through a smart meter system, for which an estimated budget of 30.5 million dirhams has been allocated. The contract also includes a management and development plan that includes defining future utilization levels, performance measurement criteria, and the distribution of funding burdens among the parties involved.

The Agency's legislative and organizational direction comes in the context of a broader national dynamic that aims to move from a reactive to a proactive approach to water resources management, taking into account the climatic changes that have deepened water scarcity and affected the recharge cycle of aquifers, especially in arid and semi-arid regions.

Although the agency has adopted strict measures to protect the Ain Beni Mutahar aquifer from depletion, the success of these measures depends on the ability of local actors and concerned institutions to adhere to the requirements of the participatory contract and coordinate efforts to ensure water sustainability in a region that relies entirely on underground resources to meet its vital needs.

While technical data is an essential step towards controlling the decline indicators, the near future will still depend on the effectiveness of the new monitoring system and its ability to provide an accurate vision for decision makers, allowing them to assess the impact of the measures taken and gradually reset them without compromising the social and economic demand for water within the eastern regions.