The spiritual capital goes green

The spiritual capital of the Kingdom, anxious to further sanitise its environment to establish it as a pleasant living environment that is more welcoming and more attractive, has made the protection of the environment and the preservation of ecosystems its main battle horse throughout the current year.

Formerly threatened by a multitude of sources of pollution, the city has taken structural measures and launched flagship projects to ensure a healthy environment, improve the living environment of the population and reduce risks to the health of the population, of which the creation of the Fez wastewater treatment plant remains the striking achievement of these regional ecological initiatives.

The station, financed for an investment of more than 1.1 billion dirhams at the level of the rural commune of Ain Bouali (Moulay Yaâcoub Province), aims to ensure the purification of all of Fez's wastewater before its discharge into the Oued Sebou and contribute to solving problems related to the integrated management of water resources.

The treatment plant, inaugurated last November by HM King Mohammed VI, also aims at the elimination of olfactory nuisances and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the improvement of the quality of the waters of the Oued Sebou and the prevention of interruptions experienced by the water potabilisation stations of Kariat Ba Mohamed and Mkanssa.

This project, with a strong sanitary, biological, economic and environmental impact, is added to other ecological projects such as the establishment of the new controlled public landfill, the development of the Jnane Sbil park, and the relocation of polluting activities outside the city.

The wastewater treatment plant of the city of Fez, carried out by the autonomous water and electricity distribution authority of Fez (RADEEF), is an integral part of the National Liquid Sanitation and Wastewater Treatment Programme (PNA) and remains an unprecedented project in this anthology of ecological and environmental initiatives launched at the regional level during this year.

This pilot project at the national and continental level, which extends over a total area of 14 ha, will also contribute to the reduction of losses resulting from the pollution of the Oued Sebou basin estimated annually at 1 billion dirhams.

Conceived as a key link in the city's liquid sanitation system, this large-scale environmental project also provides for the promotion of the living and health conditions of nearly 5 million inhabitants living downstream of the Oued Sebou, notably the provinces of Moulay Yaâcoub, Taounate, Sidi Kacem and Kenitra, as well as the urban and agricultural development of the city of Fez and its region.

The new treatment plant, compliant with international standards in terms of the latest technologies and wastewater treatment, adopts a "medium-load activated sludge" type purification process whose treatment capacity is 1.2 million population equivalent with a flow rate of 155,400 m3/day.

A large-scale project, the new station was financed thanks to a state subsidy, a loan from a consortium of national banks, and the RADEEF's own funds.

Strong in its geostrategic position and its economic, social and environmental initiatives, the Idrissid city has known how to take charge of itself by launching major projects to favour harmonious development and ensure an unequalled economic dynamic.

Provider / Source : MAP, Libération