Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sweilam participated on Monday in a workshop held to present the results of a study titled ‘Determining the Potential of Ground Reservoirs in Egypt – Phase Two.’
During the workshop, researchers at the Faculty of Engineering of Cairo University presented a summary of the results of the second phase of the study, which is being carried out by the Centre for Studies and Designs for Water Projects of the faculty for the benefit of the groundwater sector of the irrigation ministry.
Sweilam also thanked the work team for their fruitful and constructive cooperation, wishing for the continuation of this cooperation between the two sides, praising the pioneering role played by Cairo University in community service and supporting national projects undertaken by the state, and stressing the ministry’s keenness to relying on scientific research in all projects implemented.
Furthermore, the minister emphasised the importance of this study in achieving the rational management of groundwater in Egypt, which is a non-renewable water resource that must be used according to strict determinants to ensure its sustainability for future generations, with an emphasis on the importance of using modern irrigation systems when using this water in agriculture, taking into account the use of modern irrigation systems suitable for the desert nature in which these underground reservoirs are located.
He also highlighted the importance of achieving economic feasibility from using this water and maximising the return from the unit of water used, indicating that benefiting from the research capabilities of the National Water Research Centre must be taken into account in the face of such problems and challenges.
Additionally, Sweilam praised the water, environmental, and societal dimensions included in the study, which will support decision-makers in the ministry towards taking the appropriate decision that takes into account all dimensions.
The study aims to govern the use of groundwater in a way that guarantees the sustainability of this non-renewable resource and to set withdrawal parameters from the aquifer to ensure its sustainability for the longest possible period, in addition to updating hydrogeological maps with different drawing scales, developing a plan to explore aquifers, and fill gaps in the available data.
