Improvements in Water Quality in Egypt – The Borgen Project

Report on Water Management and Sustainable Development in Egypt

Introduction: Addressing Water Scarcity in Alignment with SDG 6

Egypt is classified as a nation under extreme water stress, a critical challenge to its sustainable development. The country’s per capita freshwater availability was recorded at 570 cubic meters annually in 2018, significantly below the 1,000-cubic-meter water scarcity threshold defined by the United Nations. This situation is exacerbated by several factors:

• Overwhelming dependence on a single water source, with the Nile River supplying approximately 98% of the nation’s water.
• Rapid population growth, which increases demand on limited resources.
• External hydrological pressures, including the operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
• The growing impacts of climate instability on water availability.

In response, Egypt has integrated water resource management into its national Vision 2030 strategy, with initiatives directly supporting the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). The government is implementing a multi-faceted approach focused on infrastructure modernization, source diversification, and enhanced water quality monitoring.

Strategic Initiatives Aligning with Sustainable Development Goals

1. Expanding Access to Piped Water for Rural Households

To advance SDG 6.1 (achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), targeted programs are connecting underserved communities to the national water network. Collaborative efforts have yielded significant results:

• A UNICEF-led project successfully connected over 17,800 rural households in the governorates of Assiut, Sohag, Fayoum, Minia, and Qena to piped water.
• This initiative has directly benefited an estimated 90,000 people, reducing the prevalence of waterborne diseases.
• Through partnerships like the “Water is Life” initiative, a revolving fund mechanism has been established to ensure financial sustainability and facilitate the program’s expansion, thereby contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty) by making connections more affordable.

2. Community-Level Water Filtration Systems

Localised solutions are being deployed to improve water quality at the source, directly supporting SDG 6. The “Water Is Life” program, managed by the Sawiris Foundation, exemplifies this approach:

• Operation of 27 community water treatment stations across Upper Egypt, serving 11,600 families in Minia, Assiut, Sohag, and Qena.
• These stations utilize filtered groundwater distributed via central pipelines, providing a reliable source of safe water.
• The technical solution is complemented by behavioral change campaigns, which have resulted in sustained adoption rates exceeding 90%, ensuring a lasting impact on community health and hygiene (SDG 3).

3. Modernization of Agricultural Irrigation

Addressing water use in agriculture is critical for achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 6.4 (substantially increase water-use efficiency). The World Bank’s “Farm-level Irrigation Modernization Project” has made substantial progress:

1. Conversion of over 65,000 hectares of traditional open canals into modern, buried piping systems powered by electric pumps.
2. This modernization has improved irrigation equity for approximately 207,600 users, with water access for tail-end farmers increasing from 50% to 85% of the intended flow.
3. By reducing water loss and contamination in open canals, the project enhances both water quality and agricultural productivity, supporting rural livelihoods and contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

4. Large-Scale Wastewater Treatment and Reuse

Egypt has made a landmark investment in wastewater management to protect ecosystems and create a new water resource, aligning with SDG 6.3 (improve water quality by halving the proportion of untreated wastewater). The Bahr al Baqar wastewater treatment plant is a key component of this strategy:

• As the largest treatment plant in Africa, it has a capacity to treat 5.6 million cubic meters of municipal and agricultural wastewater per day.
• The plant prevents the discharge of untreated effluent into the Nile Delta, protecting vital ecosystems and public health.
• The treated water is repurposed for the irrigation of approximately 140,000 hectares of farmland in the Sinai Peninsula, turning waste into a valuable resource for food production (SDG 2) and promoting a circular economy.

5. Seawater Desalination for Climate Resilience

To diversify its water portfolio and build resilience against climate change (SDG 13: Climate Action), Egypt is scaling up its seawater desalination capacity through public-private partnerships (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals).

• The Sovereign Fund of Egypt, with advisory support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), plans to construct 21 desalination plants by 2050.
• The initial phase aims to produce 3.3 million cubic meters of fresh water per day, with an ultimate target of 8.8 million cubic meters per day.
• This strategic initiative will reduce pressure on the Nile River, particularly in coastal governorates, ensuring a sustainable water supply for growing urban populations and supporting SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Conclusion and Forward Outlook

Egypt is demonstrating a committed and strategic approach to managing its water resources, with measurable progress in expanding access to safe water, improving sanitation infrastructure, and increasing water-use efficiency. These initiatives are directly aligned with the objectives of Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Despite ongoing challenges such as aging infrastructure, population growth, and financing constraints, the coordinated efforts to treat more wastewater, connect more homes, and diversify water sources signal significant headway toward achieving water security and improved public health for millions of citizens.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on water quality in Egypt directly and indirectly addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The initiatives described, from providing clean drinking water to modernizing agricultural practices, are interconnected and contribute to a broad range of development objectives.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This is the most central and explicitly mentioned SDG in the article. The text states that Egypt’s efforts are central to “the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goal 6.” All the initiatives discussed—providing home connections for safe water, community filtration, wastewater treatment, modern irrigation, and desalination—are core components of achieving clean water and sanitation for all.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  By improving access to safe drinking water and reducing water contamination, the initiatives directly contribute to better public health. The article notes that UNICEF’s program includes “hygiene training in schools and communities” and that the overall efforts signal “improved health for millions,” which aligns with the goal of reducing illnesses from water pollution.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article highlights the modernization of irrigation and the use of treated wastewater for agriculture. The “Farm-level Irrigation Modernization Project” improves water security for farmers, and the Bahr al Baqar plant irrigates “roughly 140,000 hectares of farmland.” These actions support sustainable agriculture and food production, which is crucial for achieving zero hunger, especially in a water-stressed country.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The development of large-scale, modern infrastructure is a key theme. The construction of “Africa’s largest wastewater plant” (Bahr al Baqar), the plan to build “21 seawater desalination plants,” and the conversion of open canals into “buried piping systems” are all significant investments in resilient and sustainable infrastructure.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article demonstrates the importance of collaboration. It mentions partnerships between various entities: UNICEF and the “Water is Life” initiative; the World Bank’s support for irrigation modernization; the Sawiris Foundation’s community programs; and the collaboration between Egypt’s Sovereign Fund, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for desalination projects. These multi-stakeholder partnerships are essential for achieving the SDGs.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

The article provides enough detail to connect the described actions to specific targets within the identified SDGs.

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. This is addressed by UNICEF’s program to connect over 17,800 rural households to piped water and the Sawiris Foundation’s 27 community water treatment stations serving 11,600 families.
   • Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution… halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse. This is directly addressed by the Bahr al Baqar treatment plant, which treats 5.6 million cubic meters of wastewater daily and reuses it for irrigation, preventing its discharge into the Nile Delta.
   • Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. This is targeted by the irrigation modernization project, which improved tail-end water access from 50% to 85%, and the plan to build desalination plants to create a new, sustainable supply of freshwater.
   • Target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management. Egypt’s strategy of diversifying its water sources through large-scale desalination and wastewater reuse, thereby reducing its near-total dependence on the Nile, is a clear example of implementing integrated water resources management.

2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.9: Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from… water… pollution and contamination. The provision of safe, filtered drinking water to tens of thousands of people and the inclusion of hygiene training directly work towards this target by preventing waterborne diseases.

3. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices. The modernization of irrigation for 65,000 hectares and the provision of treated water for 140,000 hectares of farmland make agricultural practices more resilient to water scarcity.

4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all. The construction of massive water treatment and desalination plants and the modernization of irrigation canals are prime examples of developing sustainable water infrastructure.

5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article explicitly lists partnerships involving international organizations (UNICEF, World Bank, IFC, EBRD), foundations (Sawiris Foundation), and government bodies (Egypt’s Sovereign Fund) to finance and implement these large-scale projects.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article includes several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress.

• For Target 6.1 (Access to Drinking Water):

  • Number of households/people with access to safe water: The article states that over 17,800 rural households were connected to piped water, reaching an estimated 90,000 people. An additional 11,600 families are served by community filtration units.

• For Target 6.3 (Wastewater Treatment):

  • Volume of wastewater treated: The Bahr al Baqar plant has the capacity to treat 5.6 million cubic meters per day.
  • Volume/area of water reuse: The treated water is used to irrigate 140,000 hectares of farmland.

• For Target 6.4 (Water-Use Efficiency and Supply):

  • Improvement in irrigation efficiency: Tail-end access to irrigation water increased from 50% to 85% of the intended flow.
  • Area of modernized agriculture: 65,000 hectares of open canals were converted to buried piping systems.
  • Increase in freshwater supply: The desalination plants aim to deliver 3.3 million cubic meters per day in the first phase, eventually rising to 8.8 million per day.

• For Target 6.5 (Integrated Management):

  • Number of diversified water sources: The article highlights the scaling up of two major alternative sources: treated wastewater and desalinated seawater.

• For Target 2.4 (Sustainable Agriculture):

  • Area of farmland with improved water security: A total of 205,000 hectares (65,000 from modernization + 140,000 from reuse) are mentioned as benefiting from these projects.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: borgenproject.org