The Problem of the Shortage of Fresh Water in Egypt and the Possibilities of Its Solution

The population growth rates that increased after the 1952 revolution accelerated the decline in the supply of fresh water to Egyptians due to the exhaustion of its traditional sources. As a result, at the turn of the 1980s – 1990s, Egypt has overcome the water deficit limit of 1000 m3 per person per year. In order to reduce water stress, the Government of the country in the second half of the twentieth century pursued a policy of birth control and reduction of cultivation of moisture-loving crops. Since the beginning of the 21st century, with the slow introduction of modern irrigation methods, it has focused on increasing the reuse of treated drainage waters in agriculture and the construction of seawater desalination plants to meet the needs of industry and public utilities. The Egyptian Government sees prospects for solving the problem of water scarcity, the growth rate of demand for which in the 21st century will decrease as population growth and economic development slow down, in the achievements of scientific and technological progress and the widespread use of cheap water treatment technologies.

Egypt, water management, water stress, water balance, drainage water treatment, seawater desalination