A new service and training centre for water and sanitation that has been established in Assiut with funding support from the United States was inaugurated recently in Assiut, a Sunday statement from the US embassy in Egypt said.
The new centre will provide services for more than 650,000 households, the statement added, noting that the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) partners with Egypt’s Holding Company for Water and Wastewater and its subsidiaries to construct or upgrade water and wastewater facilities in underserved cities and rural areas using low-maintenance technologies and local contractors.
Since 2009, USAID’s partnership with Assiut has helped over 370,000 residents have access to potable water and sanitation, Sherry F. Carlin, USAID Mission Director, said.
“The facility will improve the level of service provided in Assiut where the Water Company supports over 650,000 household connections,” she mentioned.
The Assiut Potable Water and Sanitation Company manages a comprehensive training plan to increase capacity and knowledge of staff, and improve best-practices in managerial, financial, commercial, operational and technical sectors.
Training is vital for sustainable performance of the company’s day-to-day operations. The new training centre will provide a venue for this training, allowing the staff to better meet the water and sanitation needs of hundreds of thousands of Egyptians.
“This was a great day to be in Assiut with USAID as we celebrate 10 years of partnership. I am a strong witness to the support we have with USAID,” Chairperson of the Egypt National Holding Company for Water & Wastewater, Mamdouh Raslan, said.
