Authorities in Casablanca have ordered the closure of car wash shops and public baths three days a week to rationalize potable water consumption. Due to concerns about ongoing droughts and low water levels in supply sources, Mohamed Mhidia, governor of the Casablanca-Settat region and Casablanca prefecture, issued a comprehensive decision to rationalize potable water consumption in Casablanca. To control usage, restrictions will be placed on the flow of water into the distribution network. Moreover, car wash shops will be closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, reads the decision issued on Wednesday. Washing vehicles with potable water will also be prohibited. Moroccan Hammams, places of public bathing, will also be suspended on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Water-saving technologies are encouraged in both car washes and Hammams. New restrictions to rationalize water consumption The authorities also prohibit planting and watering grass with potable or well water. Public spaces like streets and squares cannot be washed with water, the governor decided. Filling public and private pools is limited to once per year, with mandatory water circulation mechanisms. Unauthorized water withdrawals from wells, springs, and networks will be actively curbed. Public authorities, water distribution companies, and civil society groups will collaborate on campaigns to promote responsible water usage for both domestic and large-scale consumers. On the same token, the governor has called for a swift implementation of programs and investments to upgrade the drinking water network and minimize water loss. This follows a similar decision in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, where Hammams and car washes agreed to operate only on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, until 10 PM, with closures on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. The governor's action aligns with broader national efforts. Previously, the Interior Minister urged all regional governors to prioritize water conservation and combat resource loss due to persistent drought, lack of rainfall, and critically low dam levels.
