Minister of Irrigation expedites canal purification ahead of peak water consumption season

CAIRO - 9 April 2023: Ongoing canal purification needs to end before the peak of water consumption in the summer, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sweilam told ministry officials Sunday. 

Sweilam held a meeting to follow up on preparations for the hot season, and the ministry's efforts to monitor the water levels and disposals of canals and drain network in various governorates. 

He said purification work ensures the passage of water discharges and the stability of water levels at the suction and expulsion sites at lifting stations. 

He added that main canals need to be studied to determine whether or not they need dredging.

The minister also reviewed traffic reports on intermediate mixing stations, which raise water from agricultural drains to feed canals. The process ensures the stations’ ability to lift the required water discharges. 

He directed that the efficiency of these stations be reviewed with the specialized research institutes.

All the ministry's agencies are at full alert with  emergency rooms in all governorates, he said in a statement. 

Waterways and pumping stations are regularly monitored to ensure the provision of the necessary water needs for all sectors in terms of quantity and quality.

Egypt is below the United Nations’ water poverty threshold and there is less water per seed on each year. The county is highly dependent on agriculture and is the most populous Arab country. 

In recent years, especially with the filling of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the country has taken serious actions to save water. Shifting to modern irrigation techniques is underway, water recycling, and lining canals are all underway.