38 PERSPECTIVES ON BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS | VOL 42 | 2024 Resolving water scarcity in Morocco Kyra R. Boston Morocco has introduced several environmentally focused initiatives as the country approaches absolute water scarcity. Within these initiatives, a significant emphasis is placed on implementing desalination processes to increase water supply. However, policies fail to address the demand aspect of water scarcity, with increased supply leading to increased demand. This article discusses the current prospects within Morocco’s water scarcity infrastructure and proposes demand management strategies to expand the country’s portfolio of water scarcity solutions. Introduction Over the past 20 years, Morocco’s annual water withdrawal has risen alarmingly, deepening concerns for water scarcity within the country. The United Nations defines chronic water scarcity as an availability limit of 1000 m3/capita/year. Currently, Morocco falls within this water scarcity category, with the country’s water resources yielding only 650 m3/capita/year. However, as groundwater reserves become increasingly low and drought more frequent over the next decade, water availability is projected to fall below 500 m3/capita/year, placing Morocco in the absolute water scarcity category (Conseil Economique..., n.d.). A growing cause for concern, water scarcity in Morocco is primarily driven by the effects of climate change and expanding consumption among industries and people (Taheripour et al., 2020). Climate change alone is expected to deplete the national water supply by 80% over the course of 25 years (Conseil Economique..., n.d.). As the depletion occurs, the inability to utilize water for various basic activities will have a direct impact on Morocco’s citizens. In recent years, water scarcity and its ramifications have led to “Thirsty Protests” in Southern regions, highlighting the water-induced stresses and societal imbalances throughout the country (Hill & Pimentel, 2022). Beyond the anthropological significance of water scarcity, Morocco’s economy risks serious negative repercussions. Without the ability to sustain industries’ large water consumption, Morocco’s GDP, labor market, and economic productivity will suffer. Acknowledging the increasing severity of the country’s water crisis, Morocco has introduced multiple initiatives aimed at addressing the anticipated societal and economic challenges of water scarcity. However, these initiatives are often usurped by the desire to foster growth in the agricultural sector. As a result, early government strategies lacked well-rounded plans that included a diverse set of technological solutions. Instead, resources for water scarcity have been invested primarily in developing Morocco’s water desalination technologies. Through desalination processes, Morocco is expected to expand its annual water production by 1B m3, increasing the country’s general production capacity while improving the consistency of water accessibility in more rural regions. However, the benefits of desalination technology can lead to serious environmental and economic costs. Desalination processes have been found to harm nearby ecosystems and are recognized as a high-energy consumption process. To balance the perceived benefits and drawbacks of desalination, Morocco faces a greater challenge of diversifying its solutions to water scarcity. This article explores how Moroccan initiatives could address water scarcity while redefining the relationship between Moroccan experiences and desalination. Solutions beyond technological alternatives are recommended to bolster the future of water availability in Morocco. The economics of water scarcity In 2016, economic repercussions of Moroccan water scarcity were evaluated through World Bank computable general equilibrium model analyses comparing permanent decline in precipitation, and consequently water supply, with distinct economic metrics. Such studies analyzed the effects at varying levels of water supply reduction, in which a 15% decrease was identified as a rule of thumb. With a 15% decrease doi:10.18275/pbe-v042-007
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