Water management in Morocco : Historical trends and new challenges of regionalization

Abstract

Historically marked by institutional fragmentation among autonomous utilities, private management contracts and government intervention through the ONEE, the water sector is now undergoing a radical overhaul driven by law No.83.21, on Regional Multi-Service Companies (SRM). This new model aims to replace the current fragmentation with a unified, regionalized management system, capable of pooling resources and harmonizing services across each region. This research addresses the following question: how the transition from a fragmented management model to integrated regionalization address the long-standing challenges of territorial equity and operational efficiency in Morocco’s public water service? The study examines how this new model of integrated regionalization seeks to overcome the limitations of previous frameworks, particularly regarding tariff equity and investment capacity in the face of water stress. By combining legal analysis with a historical approach, the article demonstrates that the creation of the SRMs is not merely a technical reorganization, but a paradigm shift aimed at reconciling operational efficiency and territorial sovereignty in the management of market-based public services.