As part of the IFPRI Egypt Seminar Series

1. Water Resources Management and
Aquaculture in Egypt
Dr. Magdy Salah El Deen
National Water Research Centre
March 2017, Cairo

2. Contents
I. Water resources status, challenges and
strategic approach
II. Water quality challenges and strategic
approach
III. Water and aquaculture issues, strategic
and innovation approach

3. I. Water Resources Status
1) The River Nile :55.5 BCM/yr. ( fixed water share)
2) Rain fall and flash floods: about 2 BCM/yr.
3) Groundwater in Sinai and western deserts: 4.8 BCM/yr.,
aiming to 7.5 BCM in 2017
4) Non-conventional water resources
– Desalination of sea water :< 1 BCM/yr., remote areas
( cost 1 m3
≅ 0.5:0.7 $ )
– Reuse of drainage water ( agriculture and treated
wastewater) : about 9.0 BCM/yr.
– Use of brackish water; high potential ( limited use)

4. Water Demands for the Years 1997 and 2017
Sector Water Demand
(BCM/yr)
1997 2017
Agriculture 52.1 67.1
Evaporation losses from the Nile
and canals
2.1 2.3
Municipal uses 4.5 6.6
Industrial uses 7.4 10.6
Navigation 0.2 0.2
Total 66.3 86.8
Water Shortage

5. Challenges
1. Rapidly growing population : 38 B in 1977 to 85 B in
2014
2. Decreased water availability: from 1400 M3
/capita/yr in
1977 to 650 M3
/capita/yr in 2014 (water poverty level is
1000 M3
/capita/yr). Expected absolute water scarcity of
500 M3
/capita/yr in 2030.
3. Increasing agricultural lands with free cropping
patterns and rotations ( about 80% water use) and
4. Water pollution
5. Involvement of various institutions
•

6. Strategic approach
1. Enhancing and strengthening co-operation and co-
ordination among the concerned institutions in
charge of water management and water use.
2. Increasing public awareness to the importance of
water use( various media like TV presentations, radio
programs, etc).
3. Encourage researches to produce plant varieties of
short duration, less water requirements and salt
tolerant crops to reduce water demand.
4. Striking a balance between crops requiring high and
law water demand in the cropping pattern.
5. Strengthening legislations related to violation or water
miss-use.

7. II. Water Quality Challenges
1. Water Pollution from industrial, domestic and
agricultural sources
2. Adverse impact on human and animal health
as well as environment and the national
economy
1. Coordination between all involved institutions

8. Industry
disposals
Sources of Surface Water Pollution
Domestic
sewage
influent
Agricultural
activities
The riverine
fleet (9000
units)
Illegal polluting
practices
)e.g. dumping garbage)
Cairo cities rural
Water Pollution
Agro-chemicals

9. 245WQ Monitoring
locations

10. Overlapping Responsibilities
Ministries and organizations responsible for water quality
management in Egypt
Ministry of Interior (MI(
Ministry of Agriculture (MOA(
Ministry of Local Development
Ministry of Environment (MOE(
Ministry of Health (MOHP(
Ministry of Housing & New
Communities (MHNC(
Ministry of Industry (MOI(
Ministry of Water Resources&
Irrigation (MWRI(
Ministry of Scientific Research
Irrigation Department
Water Research Center
Environmental Health Department
Central Laboratories
Environmental and Occupational Health
Center
National Organization for Potable Water&
Sanitary Drainage (NOPWASD(
General Organization for Industrialization (GOFI(
Water Bodies Police
Agricultural Research Center
Organization for Restructure & Development of
Egyptian Villages
Academy of Science- National Research Center
Law 4/94 Monitoring coastal, standards
coastal, preservation: action plan
Law 48/82 ,standard, enforcement
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Law 93/62 ,Law 44/2000 ,treatment
Treatment
Monitoring, Studies
Prevention agro- chemicals
Treatment
Monitoring,Researches
)
Compliance

11. Strategic approach
1. Prevention and/or reduction of domestic, agricultural
and industrial waste effluent that pollute water ways
( from the source).
2. Develop a national plan on pollution control for all
stakeholders with full support from decision makers.
3. Piloting low-cost technology for waste water
treatment in urban and rural villages and
encourage/support involvement of the private sector
through Public Private Participation ( PPP).
4. Separate agriculture drains from sanitary drains
( particularly in priority drains).

12. Strategic approach (cont.(
5. Review water quality standards in various water ways
according to their use(i.e. drinking, agriculture,
recreation, navigation, etc.).
6. Establish, in different locations, Early Warning
System(EWS( facilities provided with fast response
entity that is/are capable enough to deal with any
pollution accidents(e.g. chemical spillage) in water ways.
7. Stress on the implementation of POLLUTER PAYS
principle which has been accepted by the Government.

13. III. Water and Aquaculture issues
Existing status:
1. The policies of both MWRI and MALR aim at optimum
utilization of the available water resources.
2. Priorities for water use are drinking water, industrial
water, and agriculture.
3. Fish farming is not considered a priority user of fresh
water.
4. MALR’s priority is maintaining food security through
traditional agriculture, including the production of
cultured fish as important agricultural crops.
5. Fish culture is only allowed on lands which are not
suitable for agriculture using only agricultural drainage
water.

14. III. Water and Aqua. issues (Cont. 1)
Strategic approach: Develop a short-term strategy in order to
address the present problems in aquaculture/fish farming, taking
into consideration:
1. The limited and increasingly scarce fresh water resources.
2. Fish is to be an agricultural crop.
3. Allocation fixed areas to fish farming (preferably at the end of the
water system.
4. Promote intensification and integration of fish farming systems.
5. Establishment of A Supreme Committee (High-Level Standing
Committee/HLSC) on Aquaculture, with participation of MWRI and
MALR, other authorities and NGO’s.
6. The HLSC should be headed by a calibre or public figure that can
politically support the committee recommendations and transfer the
required messages to the decision makers.

15. III. Water and Aquaculture issues (Cont. 2)
Brackish Groundwater Resource
Innovative approach
1. Huge quantities in Western desert, Sinai and along Red Sea.
2. This resources is not suitable for drinking or traditional
agriculture and not yet being exploited.
3. Groundwater is free from pollution, hence its use will enhance the
export market for fish.
4. Need to develop innovative aquaculture and agriculture
integrated production systems where salt tolerant crops is
cultivated
5. A pilot demonstration project on integration of Aquaculture and
Agriculture using brackish groundwater is required where
information and experience gained should be available to all
interested parties.

16. Thank you