DR ‹ › Water inflows have surged to 4.07 billion cubic meters (m³) between September and January 20, with a significant 3.6 billion cubic meters recorded in just the past forty days, announced Nizar Baraka, the Minister of Equipment and Water, on Tuesday. Addressing the Chamber of Advisors on the effects of recent rainfall on dam reserves, Baraka highlighted that rainfall since September has reached 121.5 mm, representing a remarkable 114% increase over the same period last year. This figure is also 24% above the average recorded between 1990 and 2020, signaling a positive trend. The snow-covered areas hit an unprecedented 55,195 km² before receding to 22,600 km², marking the highest level since 2018. Consequently, dam fill rates have risen from 28% to 48%. Baraka reported a substantial increase in the Sebou basin's fill rate, from 36% to 57% (3.167 billion m³), alongside the release of excess water from four major dams that surpassed their capacity: Bab Louta, Bouhouda, El Manaa Sebou, and Allal Al Fassi. In the Oum Er-Rbia basin, retention has jumped from 250 million m³ last year to 1 billion and 178 million m³ currently, elevating the fill rate from 5% to 24%. Several dams, including Aït Messaoud, Dourat, Sidi Driss, Imfout, Sidi Saïd Maâchou, and Moulay Youssef, have exceeded their retention capacity, along with numerous smaller dams. The Bouregreg and Chaouia basin's fill rate soared from 37% to 95.5%, with total retention reaching 1.033 billion m³, necessitating the release of excess water from several dams, such as Mohammed Ben Abdellah and Kouachia. In the Loukkos basin, the fill rate climbed to 64.30%, up from 45.25% last year, equating to 1.2 billion m³. Four dams, Chefchaouen, Charif Al Idrissi, Ibn Battouta, and Oued El Makhazine, have surpassed 100% capacity. The Souss-Massa basin saw retentions increase from 120 million m³ to 382 million, achieving a fill rate of 52%, securing a one-year supply of drinking water and a two-year supply for the Aït Baha region. Several dams, including Ahl Souss, Aoulouz, Moulay Abdellah, and Dkhila, have exceeded their retention capacities. The Tensift basin's fill rate improved from 46% to 75.7%, matching the level seen in July 2017, with excess water released from the Moulay Abderrahmane, Mohamed Ben Slimane El Jazouli, and Abou Al Abbas Sebti dams. In the Guir Ziz Rheris basin, the fill rate edged up from 53% to 57%, while the Hassan Addakhil dam reached 72% capacity, ensuring the Errachidia system's drinking water supply for over two years. Meanwhile, the Drâa-Oued Noun basin's rate remained steady at 31%, compared to 32% last year, with a two-year extension of the supply system linked to the El Mansour Eddahbi dam. The Moulouya basin held steady around 39%, with excesses noted in the Oued Za and Machraa Hammadi dams. The minister underscored that these developments have secured an average gain of an additional year of potable water supply.
