The agriculture sector remains the largest consumer of water in Egypt, as it acquired 62.15 billion cubic metres in 2015/2016. The sector accounts for 81.5% of the total use, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
In the second ranking comes the drinking and health usage sector, which consumed 10.4 billion cubic metres in 2015/2016, compared to 10.35 billion cubic metres in 2014/2015—an increase of 0.5%.
CAPMAS released a report on the occasion of World Water Day. It pointed out that the Nile River is the main source of water in Egypt, where its share reached 55.5 billion cubic metres—representing 72.8% of the total renewable water resources. Rainwater, floods, and groundwater, as well as agricultural drainage water that has been recycled and desalinated seawater, collectively add up to about 20.75 billion cubic metres in 2015/2016, compared to 20.9 billion cubic metres in 2014/2015—a decrease of 0.7%.
The report added that the total amount of produced pure water reached 9.30 billion cubic metres in 2015/2016, compared to 8.89 billion cubic metres in 2014/2015—marking an increase of 4.6%.
The amount of consumed pure water reached 5.8 billion cubic metres in 2015/2016, compared to 6.1 billion cubic metres in 2014/2015—a decrease of 4.9%.
CAPMAS noted that the amount of network losses of clean water in 2015/2016 reached 37.6% due to worn-out pipelines, as well as outdated network distribution and pipe leakage.
Total generated electric power from hydropower reached 13,822 GWH in 2014/2015, compared to 13,352 GWH in 2013/2014—an increase of 3.4%.
The World Water Day is celebrated on 22 March of every year, based on the United Nations General Assembly adoption since 1992.
The theme of the celebration this year is “Why Waste Water?”
