L’Office National de l’Electricité et de l’Eau Potable (ONEE) in Marroco has commissioned a project to supply drinking water to Marrakech and surrounding towns from the Al Massira dam, reports the Agence Marrocaine de Presse (MAP).
In a statement, ONEE said that the project for a total amount of 2.5 billion dirhams (nearly US$681 million) is part of the 2020-2027 National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation (PNAEPI).
The project will deliver drinking water for the city of Marrakech and neighboring towns and localities Skhour Rehamna, Ben Guerir, Sidi Bou Othmane, Tamensourt and rural populations on the Skhour Rehamna-Marrakech axis by 2040.
The scheme will produce 216,000 m3 per day of drinking water and will include a de-sludging station, a treatment station, three pumping stations with a combined power of 27 MVA and seven tanks with a total capacity of 93,000 m3. In addition, a pipeline of about 125 km with a diameter varying between 1300 and 2000 mm has been installed.
A 225/22 KV transformer station with a power of 40 MVA and approximately 28 km of VHV/MV power lines will also be built.
According to ONEE, the water intake achieved by perforating the Al Massira dam is a first of its kind on the African continent and among the rare dam perforation operations worldwide. It added that this operation will be duplicated at other dams in the country.