BLOG

Watercirculation 

10th of July 2023


In this region - and not just in our region but in a large part of Morocco, or even Africa - water is rare and precious. In this pink-orange coloured and utterly dry landscape, you notice water immediately. Its absence or its presence. Water is there. Water isn’t there. Water is life. It is difficult to understand the meaning of water until you live without it. If you haven’t lived that, you can only imagine. 

To give you a bit more of an idea, we would like to provide you with some information about the different types of water we receive here, and tell you how the water circulations work in and around our project.

      1.       Water coming from rain or snow in the northern mountains of Morocco 

When: when a lot of snow or rain has fallen in the northern mountains above Ouarzazate. Usually this is a moment between November and March, but it can vary each year. 

How often: once or twice per year. The water stays between 1-4 days in the region.

The Al Mansour Eddahbi dam in Ouarzazate & its reservoir store the rain and melted snow water from the north of Morocco. When the reservoir gets full, the dam is being opened. Water can then run through watercanals towards the south. It takes up to several weeks before the water reaches our region. When the water is in Bani Hayoune, the heads of the tribes will divide the water between all the people in the villages. Each house gets a certain time where you are allowed to open the gate of the canal and lead the water into your land. We use the water first of all to fill up our reservoirs and after that we water our gardens. The stored water in our reservoirs is being used for building, washing, as drinking water for the animals and for the garden.

      2.       Rain in this region

When: usually in winter, occasionally in summer.
How often: between 1 and 5 days per year.

When a lot of rain has fallen below the dam of Ouarzazate and in this valley, the usually dry Daraa river gets full. From the river the water is lead into the town canals. The heads of the tribes divide the water for everyone. The Daraa river has water once every 1 or 2 years.

Our gardens receive a few days per year direct rainwater.

      3.       Government water

When: once every 15 days.

How long: for a few hours, it varies each time.

Since December 2022 we have been connected to a government-regulated water supply network. This means that every 2-3 weeks we receive water for a few hours through a small pipe. The water comes from a well that is located in the mountains between Tagounite and Zagora. The amount of water that we receive is different each time and we can fill up between 100-140 liters each time. In winter periods it can be a bit more water, in summer periods less.

Imagine this: for 8 months you see the landscape dry, trees unwatered, a strong sun everyday, blue skies, no rain and not a single drop of water in the land. Each day a hard, cracked earth under your feet. And then, suddenly after those long and dry 8 months, a heap of water arrives, first into the communal canal and then into your land. Different systems are created. Some earlier, some in the moment itself. The water moves rapidly. You need to act fast, because the only time there is, is now. You reshape parts of the garden, dig canals, so the water can be lead in the right way. All of a sudden your barren land is turned into a landscape of big collective lakes. The earth and the trees absorb everything. It is the most magical moment of the year. And several days later, when the water has sunk into the earth and isn’t visible anymore due to the strong sun and wind, it is hard to believe water has ever been here.

During this short period of water, and still afterwards, different types of birds and insects return. The temperature of the area drops and grass finally has a chance to grow again. Hope is reborn.