Casablanca – Morocco is witnessing an unprecedented recovery in its dam water reserves as of early 2026, driven by a series of exceptional rainfall events that have reshaped the country’s hydrological landscape. Official data from the Directorate General of Water Engineering indicate that the national filling rate of dams has jumped to 61.3%, compared with just 27.6% at the same time in 2025, marking the highest level of stored water in nearly seven years.

Over the last month alone, cumulative dam storage has increased by more than 3.7 billion cubic meters, with recent daily inflows contributing hundreds of millions of cubic meters to the largest reservoirs. Between January 30 and 31, total dam storage rose by 304 million cubic meters, highlighting the immediate impact of heavy rains in key catchment areas. This single-day increase represents roughly 8% of the gains recorded since late December 2025.

Northern basins lead the recovery

The northern regions of Morocco have seen the most significant gains, with several basins approaching full capacity. The Bouregreg basin now leads the country with a 94.9% filling rate, holding approximately 1.028 billion cubic meters of water. The Sebou basin, strategically critical for national water supply, follows at 81% full, storing over 4.503 billion cubic meters, while the Loukkos basin has reached 79.6%, with reserves of 1.522 billion cubic meters.

Several major dams in the north have achieved full or near-full capacity, including Oued El Makhazine, Smir, Aoulouz, and Sidi Idriss, reinforcing water security for key urban and agricultural areas and easing pressure on surface water resources. These northern reservoirs now act as the primary buffer for Morocco’s overall water system, reflecting both abundant rainfall and improved catchment management.

Central and eastern regions show gradual gains

Central basins have also benefited, although their recovery remains uneven. The Moulouya basin has reached 50.7% capacity, with 363.6 million cubic meters stored, while the Tensift basin reports 81.5% full at 185.3 million cubic meters, bolstered by fully replenished dams such as Moulay Abdellah.

The Oum Er-Rbia basin, crucial for national agriculture, shows steady improvement with a filling rate of 33.2% and 1.648 billion cubic meters stored, though still below northern basins. Key dams like Moulay Youssef and Sidi Idriss have nearly reached full capacity, signaling targeted progress in structurally important reservoirs.

Southern and arid zones recover gradually

Southern regions, traditionally water-stressed, are experiencing a more gradual but real recovery. The Souss–Massa basin now stands at 53.6% full, with 392.5 million cubic meters, supported by fully replenished dams such as Aoulouz and Moulay Abdellah. The Guir–Ziz–Ghéris basin reports 58.2% capacity at 312.9 million cubic meters, reflecting increased inflows in previously arid catchments. The Draa–Oued Noun basin remains more fragile at 31.6%, with roughly 331.2 million cubic meters, though still showing a marked improvement compared to the lows of previous years.

Meanwhile, Al Massira Dam, Morocco’s second-largest reservoir, has seen its volume rise to 395 million cubic meters, but its filling rate remains modest at 14%, highlighting the ongoing challenge of restoring capacity in some southern and central dams.

Key dams driving national gains

Among all reservoirs, Al Wahda Dam continues to dominate in both volume and impact. Its reserves increased from 3.039 billion to 3.204 billion cubic meters, raising its filling rate from 86% to 90%, and accounting for a significant portion of the national storage increase. Other notable contributions include:

• Idriss I Dam: 708 → 736 million m³; 62% → 65% full
• Dar Khrofa Dam: 260 → 286 million m³; 54% → 59% full
• Bin El Ouidane Dam: 499 → 514 million m³; 41% → 42% full
• Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah: nearly full at 97%

Historical context and outlook

The recent surge marks a dramatic recovery from the prolonged drought cycle that affected Morocco between 2022 and 2024, when national filling rates fell below 35%, reaching a historic low of 23% in January 2024. Compared with the same date in 2025, when national storage was only 4.656 billion cubic meters, the 2026 rebound represents a 120% increase in one year.

Despite this positive trend, regional disparities remain. Northern and northwestern basins are approaching saturation, while central and southern agricultural zones are still below their long-term capacity, underscoring that Morocco’s water vulnerability is structural rather than temporary.

Looking ahead, ongoing rainfall and forecasted winter storms are expected to continue replenishing reservoirs, particularly in catchments still far from maximum capacity. Hydrological experts caution, however, that while these inflows provide short-term relief and support agriculture and drinking water supply, sustainable water management, including inter-basin transfers, irrigation modernization, and groundwater replenishment, remains critical for long-term water security.

The start of 2026 has brought Morocco’s dams to their strongest levels in nearly seven years, with over 10 billion cubic meters of water now stored nationally. Al Wahda and several northern and central dams have been instrumental in this recovery, while southern and arid regions show encouraging, albeit gradual, gains. The heavy rains have provided both immediate relief from years of drought and a crucial opportunity to strengthen Morocco’s water resilience, signaling a cautiously optimistic start to the year for the country’s agricultural, urban, and industrial water needs.