2005 - 2006 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012

EGYPT PART 2: COUNTRY ANALYSIS
Egypt
Economics (2003)
GDP per capita US$1,390
GDP per capita (PPP) US$3,940
Agriculture 16%
Industry 34%
Services 50%
Water scarcity is endemic
Egypt is characterised by limited land and water resources. Less than 3% of its area is cultivated
because of water shortage. The Nile is already fully utilised, mainly for agricultural and human use.
Water quality problems are mainly salinisation and waterlogging as a result of the over-exploitation of
the Nile. These problems affect the productivity of cultivated land, while aquifers have rising salt
levels and pollution ingress. WHO statistics point to about 90,000 annual recorded deaths linked to
water-borne diseases. Quantities of direct or indirect liquid wastes, from industrial sources into the
River Nile are estimated at 2.4 million m 3 per day. The share of Greater Cairo and Alexandria’s
pollution load is about 17% and 11% respectively.
Connection to piped water services have increased from 80% in 1995 to 95% in 2004, 90% within
households and 5% from standpipes. 28% of the population had improved sanitation in 1997.
Nationally, the government plans to see access to water rise to 100% by 2017, with 60% access to
sanitation.
Irrigation plans and wastewater re-use
Irrigation area (000 Ha) Completed Developed Planned Total
By 2004 in 2004 2004-17 by 2017
Surface water & drainage reuse 484 126 502 1,154
Groundwater 44 122 116 239
Treated wastewater 40 0 28 68
Total 567 248 645 1,461
Average consumption in the major cities is 260 l/c/day, compared with 72 l/c/day in the rest of the
country. Of those served by public water supply entities, 73% have full coverage, 24% partial
coverage and 3% no coverage.
Drinking water treatment (2000)
Million m 3 per day Capacity Production
Present capacity 18.5 14.4
Current expansion work 0.7 N/A
Planned expansion work 3.3 N/A
New facilities under construction 5.8 N/A
Planned facilities 1.3 N/A
Total 29.7 N/A
By 2003, capacity was 22.9 million m 3 . Unaccounted for water losses are estimated at 34%, ranging
from 15-65% by region, although the lack of metering means that these figures are estimates. It is
believed the real figure is in the region of 50%. Reducing leakage to 25% is seen as feasible. 88% of
municipal and 70% of industrial operating costs for water provision is met by government subsidies.
Water rates have been frozen since 1992, although a cost recovery operation has recently been
allowed.
Wastewater discharge (2000)
Million m 3 per day
Treated 4.5
Discharged to sewers 1.4
Stored in septic tanks 1.4
Direct discharge 1.6
Total 9.0
82 Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2005 – 2006