Review Article

Water Issue in Egypt: Resources, Pollution and Protection Endeavors

Hussein I. Abdel-Shafy1 and Raouf O. Aly2

1 Water Research and Pollution Control Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
2 Polymer Chemistry Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Cairo, Egypt

Corresponding author: Prof. Hussein I. Abdel-Shafy
    Water Research and Pollution Control Department
    National Research Center
    Tahreer Street
    Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
    E-mail address: husseinshafy@yahoo.com

CEJOEM 2002, Vol.8. No.1.:3–21

Key words:
Water resources, water pollution, water protection, river Nile

Abstract:
Management of water quality, control of water pollution and environmental protection are major issues to preserve living conditions for the future. Egypt has been listed among the ten countries that are threatened by want of water by the year 2025 due to the rapidly increasing population. About 97% of Egypt's water resources are from the river Nile. The rest is from winter rain and non-renewable ground water aquifers. Industrial wastes are considered the major source of pollution in Egypt. About 350 industries are discharging their sewage-water either directly into the Nile or through the municipal system. There are about 1250 industrial plants located in Alexandria (about 60% of them are responsible for marine pollution of the Mediterranean coast of Alexandria) that discharge their wastewater into the sea via Lake Marriott. About 90% of the rural population have no access to sewer systems or wastewater treatment facilities and they mostly depend on the on-site disposal of wastewater “septic tank”. Therefore, the high level of groundwater table seriously affects the infiltration and predisposes the shallow groundwater to pollution. In the delta region, drainage water is reused for irrigation after mixing with Nile water, while in Upper Egypt drainage water is disposed into the river Nile. The use of fertilizers and pesticides has significantly increased after the construction of High Dam. The result is weed flourishing which increases evapotranspiration, blocks the waterways, and provides habitats for Bilharzia snails.
    The present study discusses the water issue in terms of water quality and man-made water pollution problems in Egypt. Water pollution control, management and protection to stretch our water budget via simple processes and to ensure the availability of water for various purposes are also goals of this study.

Received:  24 September 2001
Accepted:  19 June 2002
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