Water

There was an aqueduct for fresh water from Oued Ksob to Bab Marrakech. Some traces of it can still be found.

The hydrographic network is made up of few oueds. The main one, Oued Ksob, crosses the from southeast to west and takes different names during its path. In the southern highlands this oued has a N-S direction while in the central part area it changes its direction of flow from N-S to E-W flowing in the Atlantic Ocean near Essaouira. The Eocene marls reliefs are crossed by Oued Ait ou Adil which is a tributary of Oued Ksob. Other oueds in the area are Oued Tidzi and Oued Aghbalou and Oued Tahria.

Essaouira is supplied with drinking water from underground resources from Oued Ksob and in Idaougourd.

 

• The cascades of Sidi Mbarek 12 km from Sidi Kauki
• Oasis Ain Lahjar ( Ain ElHaeja) palms,oliv,amandier,tamaris
• Rivers

 

Essaouira town has over 80,000 inhabitants. In peak seasons its added nearly 20,000 people. The town is now supplied with water from four wells, a source and five holes. The current production capacity is 270 l / second. This flow will ensure the water needs until 2030. The building project has consisted in the pumping stations on three wells and two reservoirs. Water pipes with a length of 47 km have been installed since the water table Meskala. Different reservoirs also mark the route to power Chiadma and Haha douars regions .
http://www.leconomiste.com/article/essaouira-l-alimentation-en-eau-potable-amelioree

 

Freshwater resources

The attitude towards, need for, and degree of groundwater protection vary considerably from country to country and from aquifer to aquifer. However, emphasis is still largely on groundwater development and over-exploitation. The consequences of this over-exploitation may include: a decrease in groundwater level or a reduction in water pressures; the drying up of wetlands; a reduction in pumping capacity; salt-water intrusion and land subsidence.

Saltwater intrusion

In coastal aquifers, fresh groundwater is delicately balanced on top of denser saline groundwater.
Once contaminated with salt water, aquifers are very difficult to flush and, most of the time, become unsuitable for a large number of uses.

Concrete tetrapods protecting the pier at Essaouira harbour

Land subsidence

Land subsidence occurs when ground-water is over-pumped from a confined aquifer. As pressures within the aquifer drop, the aquifer materials and the overlying clays gradually become compacted.
Land subsidence follows the consolidation of these sediments. Consequences include coastal flooding, structural damage and inoperable water and sewage systems.

Source: Case Study Essaouira UNESCO