Provincial authorities in four Moroccan regions are urging municipalities facing severe water shortages to cut nonessential spending and prioritize water supply projects as they prepare their 2027 budgets, sources familiar with the discussions told Hespress.
The recommendations have been directed to municipal presidents and members of budget, finance and planning committees in Casablanca-Settat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Marrakech-Safi and Beni Mellal-Khénifra.
Rather than repeat spending patterns from previous years, municipalities have been asked to assess projects against local water conditions and the most urgent needs of residents. Authorities want available funding directed toward securing water supplies, maintaining distribution networks and upgrading essential infrastructure.
The intervention comes as municipal committees begin reviewing spending proposals ahead of October council sessions, when draft budgets for 2027 are expected to be presented for debate and approval.
For municipalities with limited revenue, giving water projects priority will require postponing other programs. Provincial authorities have consequently recommended tighter scrutiny of spending on activities, equipment and projects that are not urgent or directly connected to essential public services.
The guidance does not impose an identical set of reductions on every municipality. Local councils are instead being encouraged to tailor their budgets to the severity of water stress in their territories, available resources and the condition of existing infrastructure.
That distinction matters because the pressures vary considerably among municipalities. Some are dealing with declining water availability, while others face rising demand, deteriorating networks or the cost of emergency measures needed to maintain supplies.
Although Morocco’s reservoirs recovered significantly following improved rainfall in 2026, several areas continue to experience structural water pressure caused by years of drought, growing consumption and uneven infrastructure. Higher national reservoir levels do not necessarily resolve local shortages or distribution problems.
The recommendations could affect projects and recurring expenses that municipalities previously included as a matter of routine. Programs considered deferrable may be moved to later budget cycles so funding can be retained for repairs, equipment and emergency interventions related to water access.
How extensive the reductions become will depend on decisions taken by individual councils during the budget process. The October sessions should provide the first clear indication of which projects are being delayed and how much money municipalities intend to redirect toward water infrastructure.
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