In the agricultural region of Dait Aoua, Morocco, farmers use a combination of drip irrigation and water wells to water their crops, but there is a danger that if these practices are overused, it could deplete the aquifer or underground water table for the region. Dr. Jack Kalpakian of Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, an expert on water issues, says that over-exploitation of these water systems threatens the future supply of this precious resource.

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Dr. Fikri Tahar, an associate of the Water Act association, cites the differences between traditional irrigation systems and the more energy-intensive ones of today. Local farmers see the impact of non-responsible water usage in the decline of the Dait Aoua aquifer level, which is their main water supply.

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Overusage is due to the fact that most farmers either cannot afford efficient systems or are unaware of resources available to them to help regulate their water usage. Dr. Driss Kettani, of Al Akhawayn University, explains the advantages of using drip irrigation systems efficiently, depending on the type of energy used to pump the water.

Improving water usage is just one of the many efforts Morocco is taking to address climate change, as in evidence at the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP22), held in Marrakech in November 2016.