Egypt takes steps to mend irrigation problems in Siwa oasis

CAIRO – 10 July 2023: The Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources released Monday a report on measures taken to resolve problems that have lasted for 30 years.

Those include increased salinity of the water of the oasis' main reservoir called "Cracked Limestone," and that is caused by the random digging of wells. Another problem is the rise in salinity levels of terrestrial water due to the upsurge of agricultural wastewater.

The ministry began digging deep freshwater wells at the Nubian Sandstone Reservoir so that its water would mix with that of surface wells. Hence, the deep wells dug randomly would be shut down, and in turn, stop withdrawing water from the "Cracked Limestone Reservoir" in an excessive way.

As for the agricultural wastewater problem, "Antafir Lift Station" is being built to carry that water from the canals of Antafir, Western Siwa, and Mloul, to an open canal through another canal that extends on 5.7 kilometers. The open canal will stretch on 33.7 kilometers and drain the water into Ain Al Ganby lowlands eastern the oasis.  

In addition, bridges at Siwa Pond are being heightened to reduce the damages caused by rising water levels, which has been a phenomenon in the past years, and that affected some agricultural lands, and tourist resorts.