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The Government Council of Morocco has examined a proposed decree concerning the classification and safety evaluation of dams, which would establish, for the first time, explicit guidelines regarding responsibility, monitoring, and assessment of water infrastructure. This follows recent floods that have intensified pressure on key reservoirs and led to increased attention on dam management, as reported by officials.

An official source stated that draft decree No. 2.25.542, which addresses dam classification and the assessment of safety levels, is one of three interconnected decrees that the council must review collectively since their content is related to a common subject—dams. A different informed source mentioned that the council restricted its work to examining the documents and agreed to discuss the three decrees in one session prior to approval, aiming to create a consistent legal framework for strategic hydraulic facilities.

The same source mentioned that the texts are complementary and cannot be implemented individually, noting that the package is anticipated to be presented at an upcoming Government Council meeting in the next few weeks, without a set date, contingent on the schedule and coordination with the General Secretariat of the Government.

A insider from the Directorate General of Hydraulic Engineering mentioned that the decree will act as a guiding framework for dam management by outlining who is accountable for each facility, the duties of those in charge, and the responsibilities and agreements related to studies and operations, with the goal of enhancing openness.

When questioned about the delays in issuing the decree despite its significance, the official source mentioned the large number of stakeholders involved, explaining that every party needed to contribute their input, which slowed down the procedure. It was also noted that several proposals had to be included before the document could move forward.

The proposed decree aims to implement the 2016 Law 30 15 by establishing practical methods for categorizing dams, outlining standards and duties, and specifying the frequency of inspections.

It would establish three classifications—A, B, and C—based on height and storage volume, enabling regulators to focus their monitoring based on the level of risk in case of a breakdown.

It would also oversee safety level evaluations using a cross-disciplinary method that takes into account the general state of the structure, its behavior during regular operation and during stress, the dependability of the equipment, and geological parameters.

The text needs consistent oversight, with daily checks for A and B dams and weekly inspections for C dams, along with increased attention in extraordinary circumstances like floods or earthquakes.

Safety assessment studies would be conducted by expert teams in civil engineering, hydraulics, geology, and geotechnical fields within a rigorous methodological structure designed to ensure report quality and consistency.

The order would also establish temporary measures for dams already in use to gradually integrate them into the new classification and assessment system without causing a regulatory vacuum.

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