Morocco has marked a milestone in African water innovation by executing a direct drilling operation in the Al Massira Dam, one of the country’s most important hydraulic infrastructures, with the goal of securing potable water supply for more than two million residents of Marrakech. This technical solution, never before attempted in Africa, addresses the critical increase in water demand caused by the city’s urban and tourism growth.
Located 120 kilometers from Marrakech, the project was developed at Morocco’s second-largest reservoir, with a capacity of 2.6 billion cubic meters. Engineers drilled a 2.5-meter-diameter, 10-meter-deep conduit through the dam’s reinforced concrete wall. To safely carry out the operation, an underwater cofferdam 40 meters high and weighing over 250 tons was installed, allowing the extraction of a 100-ton concrete core without compromising the dam’s structural integrity.
The system created enables the transport of up to seven cubic meters of water per second from the reservoir directly to Marrakech. This engineering feat not only addresses an urgent need but also offers a replicable model for other African regions facing similar challenges related to climate change and water scarcity.
Behind the project’s success is a multidisciplinary team of Moroccan and international experts who worked for months under complex conditions, including underwater dives and high-precision structural operations.
The solution implemented at Al Massira stands as a continental reference in water resilience. In a context where Africa seeks sustainable alternatives to ensure water access, this innovation demonstrates that advanced engineering can make a decisive difference in confronting growing water stress.
