Arab Republic of Egypt
Water Management in Egypt
(Challenges and Options in the Nile Delta)
Hussein El-Atfy, Ph.D
Deputy Minister and Chairman of Irrigation Department
Ministry of Water Resources & Irrigation, Egypt
September, 2010
Egypt ….is not an exception!
Light Rainfall
Agroecological
Agroecological zones
zones
le
Ni
r
ve
Ri
The
The gap
gap between
between the
the available
available water
water resources
resources and
and
water
water requirements
requirements is
is expected
expected to
to be
be wide
wide in
in the
the future
future
Nile
Nile Inflows
Inflows
The
The Egyptian
Egyptian water
water quota
quota from
from the
the Nile
Nile is
is 55.5
55.5 BCM
BCM annually
annually as
as specified
specified in
in the
the 1959
1959 agreement
agreement
between
between Egypt
Egypt and
and Sudan.
Sudan.
Groundwater
Groundwater
Groundwater
xpected from
eexpected
Groundwater in
in the
the desert
desert is
is very
very limited.
limited. The
The possible
possible amount
amount expected
from the
the groundwater
groundwater
fossil
BCM/yr
fossil reservoirs
reservoirs is
is 0.5
0.5 BCM/yr.
BCM/yr..
Deep
-20% renewable
10
BCM
Deep &
& Coastal
Coastal GW
GW in
in Sinai,
Sinai, some
some 1010-20%
renewable –– current
current use
use == 0.09
0.09 BCM.
BCM..
Rainfall
Rainfall
Egypt
Egypt is
is mostly
mostly aa rainless
rainless country
country that
that leads
leads to
to limited
limited water
water resources.
resources. The
The yearly
yearly total
total run-off
run-off that
that
could
could be
be harvested
harvested is
is limited
limited 1.0
1.0 BCM/yr.
BCM/yr.
!
•Nile
•Nile Delta
Delta is
is about
about 25,000
25,000 km²
km² with
with
about
about 34
34 million
million inhabitants
inhabitants (Cairo
(Cairo is
is
not
not included),
included), with
with 1,360
1,360 inhabitants
inhabitants
per
per km²,
km²,
•Nile
•Nile Delta
Delta is
is administrated
administrated through
through 20
20
governorate
governorate and
and includes
includes 16
16 major
major
cities,
cities,
•The
•The topographic
topographic slope
slope of
of Nile
Nile Delta
Delta
is
is about
about 20m
20m (+MSL)
(+MSL) near
near Cairo
Cairo and
and
about
about 10m
10m (+MSL)
(+MSL) near
near Tanta
Tanta City,
City,
•More
•More than
than 50%
50% of
of land
land use
use is
is
attributed
attributed to
to the
the Nile
Nile Delta
Delta (Area%=
(Area%=
2.8
2.8 for
for Nile
Nile Delta,
Delta, 2.7
2.7 for
for Nile
Nile Valley,
Valley,
94.5
94.5 for
for Desert),
Desert),
•Nile
•Nile Delta
Delta produces
produces 65%
65% of
of national
national
agriculture
agriculture production,
production,
•The
•The fish
fish productivity
productivity is
is about
about 185,000
185,000
Tons/year
Tons/year from
from the
the northern
northern lakes.
lakes. Its
Its fish
fish
production
production represents
represents 60%
60% of
of Egypt’s
Egypt’s
annual
annual fish
fish catch,
catch,
•Nile
•Nile Delta
Delta produces
produces 51%
51% of
of the
the total
total
fish
fish production
production from
from aquaculture,
aquaculture,
•About
•About 40%
40% of
of all
all Egyptian
Egyptian industry
industry is
is
located
located near
near the
the northern
northern coastal
coastal
zone
zone in
in the
the Nile
Nile Delta.
Delta.
Problem tree in “Nile Delta”
Vulnerability of the Nile Delta to
Environmental risks
1
2
Competing uses of
land
Population density
Social behavior
Disintegration of
cultivated lands into
small land holders
Conflict between
stakeholders
3
4
Limited available
water resources
Global warming &
climate change
Inefficient natural
resources management
Egypt’s arid climate
Sea level rise
Free crop pattern
Ground water
(limited)
Flood risk
Traditional irrigated
system
Rainfall (limited)
Coastal erosion
6
Urbanization
Salt water
intrusion
Soil degradation &
loss of agriculture
productivity
GW quality
Land subsidence
Renewable fresh
water (limited)
5
Water pollution
Lack of sanitation in rural
area
Salinity & water
logging
Northern lagoons
ecosystem deterioration
Institutional & legal
weaknesses
Lack of institutional coordination, Lack of participatory approach, Lack of
overall legal principles,…..etc
•The
•The natural
natural Nile
Nile cycle
cycle of
of flow
flow and
and sediment
sediment discharge
discharge has
has been
been disrupted.
disrupted.
•The
•The Nile
Nile Delta
Delta is
is threaten
threaten by
by sea
sea level
level rise,
rise, erosion,
erosion, sanitization,
sanitization, and
and pollution.
pollution.
•There
•There is
is aa marked
marked decline
decline in
in agricultural
agricultural productivity
productivity and
and loss
loss of
of land
land and
and coastal
coastal lagoons
lagoons at
at aa time
time
when
when the
the population
population is
is expanding
expanding exponentially.
exponentially.
Competing uses of land
Needs for recommended new areas for population growth
Overview
Overview of
of Salam
Salam project
project
Overview
Overview of
of Toshka
Toshka project
project
Horizontal
Horizontal expansion
expansion projects
projects
Inefficient natural resources management
Needs for better water management
A- Enforcing guidelines and law application for env. Protection & More Environmental Care per Drop
(Environmental Law No. 48 of 1982 & Law No. 4 of 1994)
DM30 DM27
DM35
DM29
DW18
DW17
DW27
DW30
DW29
DW26
DW31
DW25
DW24
DW28
DW23
DW15
DW22
DW20
DW34
DW32
DM31
DM40
DM39
IM10
DM19
DM18
DM17
DM36
DM16
Sa
lam
Ca
n
DE09
IM08
DM14
DE06
DW38
DW01
IW02
DW05
IW10
DE15
DE07 DE11
DE42
DE08
DE43
DE13
DM43
DE01
DM13
DM02
DM01
DM03
IE08
IM06
DE14
DM12
IE07
IE02
DM11
IE06
IM05
IE01
DE28
DE27
IE12
IE17
DE25
DE40
DE23
DE22
DE21
DE15
DE20
IE11
DE19
DW37
IE10
IE20
IE14
DE31
DE29
DE34
IE15
DE24
IM04
ah
DM05
DM10
Tawfik
Ray
IM01
DM06
DE30
DE26
DW36
DE17
DE18
Monitoring
Monitoring locations
locations in
in Nile
Nile Delta
Delta
B- Establishing water treatment system “Low Cost Treatment Technology”
(1) Establishing in-stream Wetland
IE19
DE32
DE33
DE12
DE04 DE03
DM15
IM02
DM04
DW35
Drainage
Drainage Catchments
Catchments in
in the
the Delta
Delta with
with Pollution
Pollution Problems
Problems
IE13
DE35
DE36
DE16
al
DE10
DM45
IE03
IM07
DW06 IW05
IW01
El
DE38
DE05
DW21
DW39
IE04
DE37
DM07
IM13
IM09
IM03
IW06
DM08
DM23
DM20
DM28
DM37
DM09
DM24
DM21
DM41
DW09
DW04
DW08
DW03
DW02
DW07
DM25
DM42
DM38
DM32
DM44
DW12
DW11
DW14
DW16 DW10
DM26
DM34
DM33
DW33
DW13
DW19
(2) Establishing Manzala Wetland
DE41
C- Establishing water management activities on-farm for More Crop per Drop
Modifying
Modifying the
the cropping
cropping pattern
pattern
Clover
Maize
Wheat
Sorghum
Barely
1%3%
0%4%
1%
0%
0
0%
%
2%
3%
4% 1%
Rice
Faba bean
10%
Lentil
47%
7%
Yellow maize
24%
Pea nut
3%
6%
Fenu Greack
Sesame
Check Peas
Soya bean
Lupin
Flax
Winter Onion
34%
4%
3%
1%
0%
0%
2%
2%
Summer Onion
Potato
38%
Garlic
Sun flower
Tomato
Sugar beat
Other Vegetables
Potato
Other Field crops
Sugarcane
Tomato
Winter
Winter water
water requirements
requirements pattern
pattern structure
structure in
in Egypt,
Egypt, 2007
2007
Summer
Summer water
water requirements
requirements pattern
pattern structure
structure in
in Egypt,
Egypt, 2007
2007
D- Aquatic weed control
Manual control
Mechanical control
Biological control
E- Controlling soil degradation and loss of agriculture productivity
Salinity
Salinity and
and water
water logging
logging
Constructing
Constructing subsurface
subsurface drainage
drainage system
system
Subsurface
Subsurface drainage
drainage coverage
coverage in
in the
the Delta
Delta
Salinity
Salinity and
and water
water logging
logging are
are
now
now under
under control
control
in
in about
about 80%of
80%of the
the affected
affected
areas
areas
following
following the
the instillation
instillation of
of
drainage
drainage system
system
1999
1999
F- Improving the water quality and ecosystem in Northern Lagoons
Brackish-water
Brackish-water Fisheries
Fisheries
In the North Delta (lakes Maryuit, Edku, Burullus & Manzala)
Saline
Saline –– water
water Fisheries
Fisheries
These comprise Bardaweel Lagoon and Port Fouad Lake
Pollution source: Agricultural drainage and disposal of
primary treated domestic sewage.
This pollution accelerates the process of eutrophication.
So, many fish species are disappeared from these lakes as
a result of water pollution!
Prevention and/or reduction of
domestic, agricultural and industrial
emissions
is the main key
for lakes restoration
How
•Focus
•Focus on
on treatment
treatment of
of industrial
industrial and
and domestic
domestic wastewater,
wastewater,
•Control
•Control production
production and
and import
import agrochemicals,
agrochemicals,
•Control
•Control the
the use
use of
of organic
organic fertilizers,
fertilizers,
•Enforcing
•Enforcing guidelines
guidelines and
and law
law application.
application.
Water shortage
Needs
Needs for
for reuse
reuse agricultural
agricultural drainage
drainage water
water
Main
Main agricultural
agricultural areas
areas and
and types
types of
of irrigation
irrigation in
in the
the Nile
Nile Delta
Delta
Official
Official reuse
reuse criteria
criteria in
in the
the Nile
Nile Delta
Delta
Maximum
Maximum Possible
Possible drainage
drainage water
water reuse
reuse
in
in Nile
Nile Delta
Delta (BCM)
(BCM)
Impact of sea level rise (SLR)
Year 2025
Year 2050
Areas affected by SLR under a range of scenarios (source: CoRI, 2008)
Erosion and land subsidence
Land
Land subsidence
subsidence rate
rate is
is about
about 0.4
0.4 –– 3.35
3.35 mm/y
mm/y
Sea
Sea level
level rise
rise rate
rate is
is about
about 1.2
1.2 –– 1.95
1.95 mm/y
mm/y
The
The expected
expected negative
negative impact
impact of
of SLR
SLR (0.3
(0.3--0.5m)
0.5m) on
on the
the Nile
Nile Delta
Delta
•Land
•Land &
& property
property losses
losses (about
(about 30%
30% of
of the
the total
total area),
area),
•Economic
•Economic losses
losses (10
(10 –– 35
35 US$
US$ billion),
billion),
•Job
•Job losses
losses (70,000
(70,000 –– 195,000
195,000 Jobs),
Jobs),
•Relocation
•Relocation of
of the
the inhabitants
inhabitants (0.5
(0.5 million
million –– << 22 millions
millions people).
people).
land
land subsidence
subsidence
Needs
Needs for
for protection
protection of
of the
the coastal
coastal zone
zone from
from erosion,
erosion, land
land subsidence
subsidence and
and sea
sea water
water rise
rise
Beach
Beach nourishment
nourishment and
and grains
grains ,, Breakwaters,
Breakwaters, Protection
Protection the
the sand
sand dune
dune area,
area, Legal
Legal development
development
regulation
regulation
Locations
Locations of
of sand
sand dunes
dunes along
along the
the Nile
Nile Delta
Delta
Protection
Protection the
the sand
sand dunes
dunes located
located in
in the
the coastal
coastal zone
zone
Sand
Sand dune
dune area
area
Salt water intrusion
Needs
Needs for
for protection
protection of
of coastal
coastal GW
GW aquifer
aquifer from
from excessive
excessive pumping,
pumping, saltwater
saltwater intrusion
intrusion and
and pollution
pollution
risk
risk
Groundwater
aquifers
in
the
Nile
Delta
Distribution
of
salinity
in
Nile
Delta
aquifers
Groundwater aquifers in the Nile Delta
Distribution of salinity in Nile Delta aquifers
Domiat
Kafer El Shekh
Port Said
Dakahlia
Alexandria
Beheira
Gharbia
Sharkia
Ismailia
Kaliobia
•Establishing monitoring programme for
GW according to priority areas in Nile
Delta.
•Controlling and reducing the pumping
from the eastern and western parts of the
Nile Delta.
•Cultivating a rice belt in the Northern
Governorates to reduce the saltwater
intrusion.
Governorate
Governorate boundaries
boundaries and
and the
the estimated
estimated land
land use
use of
of
rice
rice production
production (About
(About one
one million
million Fed.)
Fed.)
Way forward
Common mechanisms
Researches
Capacity building
Developing technology
Public awareness
Involving SHs
Policy & Institutional arrangement
Increasing collaboration
Sharing data, networking
Engine mechanisms
1- Researches
Enhancing research to understand of best practices of water and land management.
2- Monitoring, data collection and sharing data:
(agriculture and fishery; drinking and waste water treatment plants, industrial plants, irrigation
and ground water; environmental risk; demography; economics).
3- Technologies:
Adopting modern technology for best practices of water and land management.
4- Coordination and cooperation:
Engagements of key stakeholders.
Providing a mechanism for risk spreading and sharing open to the whole community.
Joint government-private sector for development of agriculture, water resources and management.
5- Capacity building and participatory approach:
Supporting the current efforts for capacity building and advisory services.
6- Public awareness:
Promoting of public awareness campaigns using all available media.
Providing guidance with regard to water management and environmental risk.
7- Policy and Institutional arrangements:
Developing of the proper utilization and management policy of water resources management.
Enforcing guidelines and law application for environmental protection.
Developing decision–support system tool.
Conclusion
• The Nile Delta is one of the most heavily populated and intensely
cultivated areas on earth.
• The Nile Delta is highly vulnerable to environmental risks.
• The main key factors that cause the environmental risks in this region
are Sea level rise, erosion, land subsidence, salt water intrusion, soil
degradation, undiversified crop-pattern, yield reduction, water
pollution, population growth & competing uses of land.
• It is vital to sustain the Nile Delta from such environmental risks by
developing adaptive measures and upgrading awareness.
• Further and more effective coordination, cooperation and collaboration
with national and international activities are needed in the field of water
and land management in the delta.
Statements
• The strategy to face climate change impacts should be integrated within
the National Plans. This requires: awareness, political will and
commitment
• There is a need to link science and research with policy. Realistic
choices have to be made, determining priorities and using opportunities
• There is a need to mobilise short and long-term funding for the
implementation of the Plans. This requires huge investment, that may
surpass the Government’s capability
• Because climate change is a global phenomenon, we urge the
international community to be committed to fund the cost of coping with
climate change.
• There is a need for continuous international dialogue, sharing
knowledge, integrated networking and exchange of best practices.
Thank you all