Studies on Egypt’s groundwater should be carried out before development: minister

CAIRO - 5 April 2023: Development based on groundwater should be put off until all technical studies have been carried out to determine development patterns commensurate with the potential of aquifers, the minister of irrigation said Wednesday. 

Minister Hany Sweilam held a meeting to follow up on the rational management of groundwater in Egypt and the progress of a study to determine the potential of groundwater reservoirs in Egypt. The study is drafted by the  Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University in partnership with the Groundwater Sector in the ministry.

The relevant studies will set parameters for groundwater use to ensure its sustainability for the longest possible period.

Deep groundwater in Egypt is non-renewable, and that overconsumption would the aquifer and increase its salinity. Therefore, rational management of groundwater would allow optimal benefits of this important water resource, Sweilam said.

He reiterated the necessity of modern irrigation systems suitable for the desert as a substitute for irrigation by immersion when using deep groundwater.

He also highlighted remote control system and smart meters used in wells in the New Valley governorate to record and control consumption from each well and avoid excessive usage.

The minister underscored raising the overall efficiency of water use and maximizing the yield from the water unit to come to intensive production of food using the same amount of water, all in the framework of achieving food security. 

Other than groundwater, he emphasized water desalination as an important resource for renewable water to meet population increase. 

Both water resources should be used in an optimal manner that achieves economic feasibility while using modern technology and solar energy in the desalination process. 

Solar energy would reduce costs, as energy is the most important element in the field of water treatment and desalination.
 

Much like studies on groundwater, studies on requirements for the desalination membrane industry should also be carried out to expand desalination projects, Sweilam added.