Luxembourg, 17/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - End-December, the European Investment Bank (EIB) granted a 20 million euro loan for investments aimed at improving the environmental conditions in the running of seven drinking water treatment plants in the North and Centre of Morocco, including the main plant of Bou-Regreg that serves the municipalities of Raba and Casablanca. The project, promoted by the National Drinking water Office (ONEP), will allow for substantial improvements to the drinking water treatment systems by eliminating environmentally-unfriendly liquid waste, and playing in favour of a better use of one of the most important natural resources for the wellbeing of Morocco's population and environment. According to the EIB, the expected impact of the project on the environment is important and warrants an interest rate subsidy from the EU's budgetary resources. This is the fourth loan the EIB has signed with ONEP, the total amount the Bank has granted to ONEP now amounting to 160 million euro. This loan complements upstream numerous EIB interventions in favour of agricultural irrigation projects and water cleansing that complete the whole water cycle.