(AFP File Photo)
The Ministry of Housing declared the completion of 83 drinking water and sanitation projects, along with 112 sanitation projects in villages on 30 June, according to a ministry press statement Saturday.
Minister of Housing Mostafa Madbouly said the Construction Authority for Potable Water and Wastewater (CAPW) completed eight sanitation projects in five satellite cities, with an investment cost of EGP 700m. Of these, three projects were in New Cairo, two projects were in the Burg Al-Arab area in Alexandria, and one project in 6th of October City, 10th of Ramadan City and Badr City respectively.
Additionally, four drinking water projects were completed in three satellite cities, with an investment cost of EGP 2.8bn, as well as two projects in the 10th of Ramadan City, and one for both Obour City and Burg Al-Arab.
The ministry will begin operating tests for these projects, and they will begin work officially within three weeks after the completion date.
Madbouly said the water shortage problem will be resolved in some areas, especially Faisal and Central Giza, after connecting the water line of the Remaya region to the 6th of October City water station, which will be completed on 30 August.
Madbouly stressed that the random, informal construction in Giza is behind the current water crisis, declaring that for the first time, sanitation and drinking water projects’ investments exceed EGP 7bn during the current fiscal year.
“The National Organization for Potable Water and Sanitary Drainage (NOPWASD) has implemented 40 projects for drinking water, with a total capacity of 1.2m cubic meters per day, at an investment cost of EGP 6.3bn,” said Madbouly. “Twenty-three sanitation projects have been completed, with a capacity of 400,000 cubic metres per day, with an investment cost EGP 3.336bn, as well as the completion of 112 sanitation projects for villages at a cost of EGP 2bn.”
The minister noted that the CAPW completed eight sanitation projects in Greater Cairo and Alexandria, with an investment cost EGP 901m.
Egypt faces challenges in covering sanitation services for all villages, with only 15% of villages receiving wastewater sanitation treatment. This pushed the Ministry of Housing to develop an intensive plan to cover Egyptian villages’ sewage services within five years.
The ministry plans to provide sewage services for approximately 40% of villages within two years, with an increase rate of 25% from the current rate. In addition, it plans to cover the remainder of the villages within another two years to reach 100% coverage in the fifth year.
