Morocco’s Public Baths Face Closure Amid Drought Crisis
For years, Fatima Mhattar has welcomed shopkeepers, students, bankers, and retirees to Hammam El Majd, a public bath on the outskirts of Morocco’s capital, Rabat. For a handful of change, they relax in a haze of steam then are scrubbed down and rinsed off alongside their friends and neighbors.
The public baths, known as hammams in Arabic, have been an integral part of Moroccan life for centuries. Inside their domed chambers, men and women from all social classes come together to unwind. Bathers sit on stone slabs under mosaic tiles, lather with traditional black soap, and wash with scalding water from plastic buckets.
However, these beloved institutions have become the latest casualty as Morocco grapples with unprecedented threats from climate change and a six-year drought that officials have deemed disastrous. Cities across the North African nation have mandated that hammams close three days a week this year to conserve water.
Mhattar smiled as she greeted families carrying buckets full of towels, sandals, and other bath supplies to the hammam where she works as a receptionist on a recent Sunday. But she expressed concerns about how these restrictions would limit customer volume and impact her earnings.
The scarcity of rainfall and rising temperatures have led to a decrease in Morocco’s largest reservoirs, causing alarm among farmers and municipalities dependent on water. The country is now faced with difficult decisions as it grapples with the challenges of climate change and drought.
The decision to impose restrictions on businesses like hammams and car washes has sparked controversy. Many hammam-goers and politicians argue that the government is favoring certain sectors by choosing not to ration water at more upscale establishments such as hotels, pools, spas, and the agricultural industry, which consumes the majority of Morocco’s water.
Fatima Zahra Bata, a member of Morocco’s House of Representatives, questioned the government’s decision in written inquiries to Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit. She raised concerns about the impact of hammam closures on low-income individuals whose livelihoods depend on these establishments.
While Laftit has yet to respond to these concerns, the closures have affected approximately 200,000 people directly or indirectly employed in the hammam sector, accounting for about 2 percent of the country’s total water consumption.
Hammams have been shuttered in cities like Casablanca, Tangier, and Beni Mellal following the interior minister’s directive earlier this year to implement water-saving measures. The closures have raised particular concern in mountainous towns where residents rely on hammams for warmth during cold weather.
Mustapha Baradine, a carpenter in Rabat, expressed frustration over the closures, questioning how his minimal water usage could make a difference in a drought. The situation has sparked discussions about wealth disparities, poverty, and political influence.
Morocco has made strides in reducing poverty in recent years but continues to struggle with income inequality. Despite economic growth in certain sectors, working-class individuals have voiced grievances over disparities and rising living costs.
Neighboring countries like Tunisia and Spain have implemented water rationing measures in response to water scarcity. In Morocco, hammam owners are grappling with the economic implications of the closures, with concerns about job losses and revenue decline.
While some hammam-goers support the closures as a means to raise awareness about drought, others are feeling the impact of these restrictions on their daily routines. The closures have prompted a nationwide conversation about water conservation and the need for sustainable practices in the face of climate change.
As Morocco navigates the challenges posed by drought and water scarcity, the fate of its public baths hangs in the balance. The closure of hammams serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for conservation efforts and sustainable water management practices to ensure a secure future for all Moroccans.