Agricultural drainage water reuse policy in Egypt: Conservation and challenges

It is a fact that water has been a scare resource due to natural, climatic and geographic reasons, and also due to some human factors such as the tremendous growth in population as well as the wasteful utilization and abuse of water resources. As far as Egypt is concerned, the Nile River is playing a key role in providing the main potential for all economic activities in the country. However, rapid population growth in addition to limited water resources represent the principle challenge in the next few decades. Efficient and effective use of water resources in Egypt in both time and space require the formulation and implementation of appropriate water polices. Agricultural drainage water has emerged as the most attractive type of unconventional resources for many practical and economical reasons. Reuse of drainage water has been adopted as a national policy since the late seventies. Recycling drainage water has proved to be the most accessible and efficient mean to supplement or avail water for irrigation. However, reuse of such water is prone to pollution hazards and associated adverse socio-economic effects. Egypt has already made number of leading steps towards integrated management of drainage water as part of the available annual water budget for meeting the increasing demands. These efforts include establishing quantity and quality monitoring networks, data bases and information systems; developing simulation models and developing guidelines for the safe use of such water on environmentally sound basis. Because the issue of drainage water reuse has a direct impact on the community, the Government of Egypt sets strict regulations governing the quality of drainage water to be mixed with fresh water. This paper presents the opportunities for drainage water development and management to reinforce the national water resources management development.