Mohamed Nasr El-Din Allam, former Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, stated that Egypt’s per capita water share has dropped to approximately 500 cubic meters per year, amidst water resources that are no longer sufficient to keep pace with growing needs. He emphasized the necessity of linking water management to economic viability, enhancing cooperation among Nile Basin countries, and studying projects capable of increasing available resources.

Speaking during an interview on the program Red Line, hosted by journalist Mohamed Mousse on Al-Hadath Al-Youm TV channel, Allam explained that the Jonglei Canal project is one of the important initiatives to boost water resources for both Egypt and Sudan, as it could help tap into water lost in swampy areas. He noted that the quantities that could be saved through this project might equal two to three times the total annual water yield of both countries combined.

Jonglei Canal: A halted project despite its hydrological importance

Allam noted that efforts to increase Egypt’s water resources have been linked to projects and moves across successive presidential eras. He explained that the late President Gamal Abdel Nasser took steps regarding Egypt and Sudan’s share of Nile water, while the late President Anwar Sadat sought to increase water resources as the Egyptian citizen’s share declined due to population growth. He added that the Jonglei Canal project saw progress during Sadat’s era, with parts of the work executed before halting due to the civil war in South Sudan, keeping the project stalled to this day.

The former irrigation minister stressed that water cooperation projects among Nile Basin countries continue to face challenges despite efforts made across successive presidential terms, including the era of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. He underscored the importance of boosting cooperation among basin states to serve mutual interests and optimize the use of available water resources.

500 cubic meters per capita annually

Allam explained that the drop in per capita water share to around 500 cubic meters per year reflects Egypt entering a state of water scarcity. He pointed out that this amount equals half of the 1,000-cubic-meter annual per capita benchmark—which he noted is the standard limit set for desert countries like Egypt, according to World Bank thresholds.

He indicated that the standard limit for countries with normal hydrological conditions stands at around 1,500 cubic meters per capita annually, whereas it is around 1,000 cubic meters for desert nations.

He added that the repercussions of water scarcity are evident in Egypt’s reliance on importing a large portion of its food needs, alongside resorting to seawater desalination to provide drinking water, and treating and reusing water multiple times to meet rising demand.

He concluded by noting that the state bears heavy financial burdens to secure necessary food for the population, which calls for evaluating the sustainability of current policies and striking a balance between available resources and increasing demands.

Drinking water and industry first

Regarding the allocation of water resources across different sectors, Allam explained that the requirements for drinking water and existing industries cannot be easily reduced, as compromising drinking water supplies or lowering the water needed to sustain industrial activity would have direct repercussions.

He added that the water remaining after satisfying drinking and industrial needs represents the resource available for agriculture and other uses. He pointed out that these quantities are diminishing annually, making an increase in water resources a necessity to preserve Egypt’s limited arable land and satisfy the demands of various sectors.

The former irrigation minister stressed that agricultural expansion must be grounded in precise hydrological and economic calculations that factor in the cost of providing water per acre, the value of the resulting crops, and whether crop returns can cover water production costs. He noted that desalination costs can reach about US 0.75$ to US 1.00 per cubic meter, according to his figures, warning against using high-cost water to grow crops that do not generate economic yields proportional to the cost of supplying that water.

He emphasized that while agricultural expansion aims to enhance self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on food imports, achieving this goal requires selecting crops whose water requirements align with available resources—thereby ensuring genuine economic viability and reducing financial burdens on the state.

Rice, sugarcane, and reevaluating crop mapping

Allam linked water resource management directly to decisions regarding crop patterns, pointing out that rice and sugarcane are among the most water-intensive crops. Expanding their cultivation imposes additional burdens on Egyptian water resources, even when certain crops yield high economic returns.

He noted that rice and sugarcane are major crops cultivated in several Nile Basin countries, particularly in the Equatorial and Ethiopian plateaus, underscoring the need to review agricultural policies to match the state’s actual needs and water capacity.

He stressed the importance of placing water economics at the forefront of agricultural decision-making, ensuring that crop evaluations are not limited solely to economic yields, but also encompass the volume of water required for production and the cost of providing it—achieving a balance between agricultural output and water conservation.

Reuse and water treatment to expand available resources

Conversely, Allam indicated that Egypt has achieved an advanced level in optimizing its water resources through water reuse and maximizing the utility of various sources, including Nile water, groundwater, and agricultural drainage water.

He explained that agricultural drainage water represents a key source for reuse, alongside water that seeps from canals and drainage systems into the subsoil. He added that discharging a portion of agricultural drainage water is also necessary to flush out accumulated salts from the soil.

He stated that water resource use efficiency in Egypt reaches approximately 70 percent, according to his figures, comparing it to levels achieved in the United States, while stressing the importance of continuing to develop the water management system and raise the efficiency of available resources.

He added that Egypt has relied for decades on water treatment and multiple reuse cycles, alongside blending certain water sources to meet diverse needs. He noted that recent technological advancements in treatment processes have enabled higher standards, allowing water to be reused for various purposes in compliance with required quality parameters.

He cited the Bahr El-Baqar Drainage Water Treatment Plant as a prominent project in this field, noting that it reflects the capacity to execute advanced water projects despite their high cost.

Allam concluded by emphasizing that evaluating water treatment and reuse projects should not rely on technical capabilities alone; rather, it must encompass the total cost compared to the economic yield and final product. He explained that any project failing to generate a return proportional to its cost risks becoming an economic burden, regardless of its technical importance.

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