Tangier’s coastline, where industrial growth, urban expansion, and the Mediterranean meet, is under pressure from untreated industrial discharges and urban runoff. In this semi-confined coastal zone, pollutants accumulate while real-time monitoring and coordinated management remain absent, posing risks to ecosystems, fisheries, and public health.
This project introduces a real-time water quality monitoring system tailored to the local context, tracking priority pollutants such as heavy metals and PFAS. By adapting the RHE-MEDiation approach previously tested in Turkey, it will generate continuous, high-frequency data to support faster, evidence-based decision-making and demonstrate its relevance for broader Mediterranean application.
The RHE-MEDiation project works by combining advanced monitoring technologies with innovative treatment approaches to better understand, track, and address chemical pollution. In particular, it will test and validate a remediation technology based on microalgae systems integrated into existing water and wastewater treatment infrastructure. These systems are designed to enhance the removal of complex contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, PFAS, and other persistent “forever chemicals,” strengthening the performance of current treatment processes.
This approach is complemented by the deployment of both mobile and fixed sensing systems that continuously detect and measure chemical pollutants in inland and marine waters. The data generated will be transmitted to European platforms such as EMODnet, contributing to the development of the Digital Twin of the Ocean and enabling more accurate, large-scale environmental monitoring and decision-making.
Through stakeholder engagement, co-creation, and technical collaboration, the project strengthens institutional capacity and delivers a roadmap for remediation and scale-up. The evidence generated will address Tangier’s immediate challenges while establishing a scalable model for replication in other Moroccan coastal zones such as Nador, Ksar El Kebir, and Tetouan. By aligning with national policy frameworks and integrating EMODnet standards, it supports the transition of RHE-MEDiation from pilot to national-level planning.
Environmentally, the project co-develops a forward-looking roadmap to guide improvements in wastewater pre-treatment and data management. It lays the foundation for future investment in scalable solutions like the GREEN DUNE photobioreactor, while clarifying that such technologies are not part of this 9-month pilot but remain within long-term feasibility planning. Although no direct remediation occurs at this stage, baseline data and mapping will reveal critical pollution patterns to inform future interventions, including zoning reforms, targeted upgrades, and improved treatment strategies.
The approach focuses on institutional anchoring, embedding monitoring systems and data use into governance structures. It strengthens environmental enforcement, supports long-term planning, and contributes to national strategies, positioning Tangier as a model for evidence-based marine pollution management.
Expected results include the development of adaptive and easily reproducible microalgae-based treatment systems, the establishment of smart integrated monitoring points for real-time pollution tracking, and the integration of these solutions into existing wastewater systems to improve their ability to address complex chemical contaminants.
Aligned with the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters,” the project advances a shift from reactive to proactive water governance, laying the foundation for scalable, data-driven solutions across Morocco and the Mediterranean.
