Amidst global water scarcity and the challenges posed by climate change, Morocco is turning to innovative solutions to secure water supplies for its population. A prominent example is the coastal city of Agadir, which is breaking new ground with one of the world’s most advanced seawater desalination plants. While the high energy demands of desalination are being met sustainably through renewable energy, a key question remains: Can seawater desalination be the answer to the global water crisis?
What is Seawater Desalination and Why is It Necessary?
Every child has wondered at some point why sailors can suffer from thirst while surrounded by water. The answer lies in the fact that not all water is drinkable: freshwater is essential for human survival, while drinking seawater, with its high salt content, dehydrates and harms the body. In a world where only about 3% of global water resources are freshwater—and much of that is locked in glaciers, groundwater, or hard-to-reach sources—ensuring an adequate freshwater supply is becoming increasingly challenging.
Seawater desalination offers a technical solution to convert saline water—primarily from the oceans—into potable freshwater. This process is particularly vital in regions with water scarcity or arid climates. According to a report by the International Desalination Association (IDA), the global capacity for seawater desalination has rapidly increased over the past few decades, with countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia leading the way.
The amount of desalination plants and their capacities are constantly on the rise. Source: University of Leeds
As the global population continues to grow and climate change further stresses natural freshwater resources, desalination is becoming increasingly important. It serves not only as an emergency measure in water-scarce regions, but also as a strategy to secure future water supplies. However, the process is energy-intensive and poses environmental challenges, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable water management solutions.
Agadir: From Fishing Village to Pioneer in Seawater Desalination
Agadir, once a tranquil fishing village on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, has transformed into a major economic hub in recent decades. However, like many parts of Morocco, the city faces significant water challenges. Periods of drought, increasing water demand driven by agriculture and tourism, and the effects of climate change have pushed traditional water resources to their limits.
The Seawater Desalination Plant in Agadir: A Technological Marvel
Photo: James Grellier, Reverse osmosis desalination plant, CC BY-SA 3.0
To address these challenges, Agadir has built a state-of-the-art seawater desalination plant. This facility uses reverse osmosis, a process in which seawater is forced under high pressure through specialized membranes that remove salt, producing potable water. With a daily production capacity of 275,000 cubic meters of water—split into 150,000 cubic meters for drinking water and 125,000 cubic meters for irrigation—it ranks among the largest of its kind globally. The plant’s capacity can be expanded to 400,000 cubic meters per day if needed.
The project was realized through a public-private partnership between Morocco’s National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) and the Ministry of Agriculture,