Drinking water utility calls for good usage of water

Morocco's drinking water utility (ONEP) called on Tuesday citizens and enterprises to avoid squandering and polluting drinking water made scarce by a drought season.

ONEP told users it could increase the price of water in some dams-fed regions and reassures them that water quality will not be altered and will continue to be conform to national drinkable norms.

Morocco projects to invest 500 Million Dirhams (US$ 45.4 million) in water prospecting by 2004 while ONEP will earmark 11 million DH (US$ one million) to consolidate drinking water production and extend the supply network.

The measures are part of efforts to alleviate effects of drought which has become a structural phenomenon and affected 90% of the territory as rain deficit ranged between 30 and 90%, he added, the state will support the transfer of water from regions with surplus to other which suffer water shortage.