JAPAN BANK

FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

STUDY OF WASTEWATER SECTOR IN GREATER CARIO

Final Report
February 2006

Chemonics Egypt
Ahmad Gaber and Associates
Engineering and Management Consultants
Executive Summary 1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Egyptian Government considers the water supply and sanitation issue of high
priority due to its valuable social and economic return. The total investments spent on
water and wastewater services during the period 1982-2005 amounted to about LE 60
billion. Inspite of the steady increase of population during this period, the water per
capita share was duplicated, and the wastewater services per capita share was
increased to 6 times. Nevertheless, there still exist problems facing the sector, which
limit the ultimate benefit from these investments; this was reflected on the level of
service delivered. The growing population of Egypt, reaching about 72 million in the
year 2005, generates a great pressure on the water and wastewater sector to face the
increasing demand on these two services.

In recognition of the importance f the wastewater sector in Egypt, the Japan Bank for
International Cooperation (JBIC) has requested Chemonics Egypt to conduct a study
on the wastewater sector in Greater Cairo for potential cooperation in this sector. The
data and information provided in the study were collected from reports and interviews
with concerned authorities. Although the study focused on the wastewater services in
Greater Cairo, an overview of the developments in the wastewater sector nationwide
was also included.

The national environmental development plan in Egypt seriously addresses the

degradation of water resources in the country, mainly the river Nile. As the river
flows from Aswan down to the Mediterranean Sea, many land-based and point
sources of pollution reach the Nile through drainage canals. The sources of pollution
include raw or partially treated wastewater. The Environmental Law No. 4/1994 has
been issued to protect the environment in Egypt in general and refers to the Law
48/1982 that deals with pollution abatement from wastewater discharges. The
wastewater sector is considered of utmost importance to the national development
plan for its contribution to the social and economic welfare through its role in the
protection of the environment, safeguard the public health, and generation of
thousands of new job opportunities in Egypt.

The wastewater affairs in Egypt are viewed as a part of the water and sanitation
sector. This sector is starting to take steps to decentralize management nationwide
and devote financial planning and management to the governorate levels through
water/wastewater companies under the umbrella of the holding Company for Water
and Wastewater (HCWW). There are several emerging issues in the wastewater
sector at present. These include construction of new wastewater facilities and
expansion of existing ones. Such facilities include sewer networks, pumping stations,
treatment plants and disposal works. Sustainable financing will be needed to fund
such projects. The National Organization for Potable Water and Sanitary Drainage
(NOPWASD) will continue to fund and construct capital investment projects. Since
new projects in wastewater are very costly, and NOPWASD budget will not cover
required projects all over the country. Egypt will seek additional, foreign funds to
those allocated through the state.

Study of Wastewater Sector in Greater Cairo Final Report

Chemonics Egypt February 2006
Executive Summary 2

Also, it is planned that all newly established water companies under the umbrella of
the HCWW (14 companies) should cover all their operating expenses initially as well
as their investment projects in the near future. These companies will have to resort to
non-governmental financing schemes for their investment projects. Therefore,
financing of capital investment projects in the wastewater sector is one of the major
issues to be considered for developing any national and/or local investment plans.
Financial planning for the sector requires the availability of reliable financial
information.

In general, there is currently no solid system that is producing on regular basis

statistically reliable financial information regarding actual cost or exact quantities of
production and selling water, or for pumping and treating wastewater. There is no
regular maintenance and repair program for flow meters and water quantities,
especially for public tap groups or governmental premises and religious institutions,
are mostly estimated. Therefore, all budgets and plans can only be regarded as “best
estimates” until a new cost center accounting system can be implemented and
production quantities can be more accurately determined. However, for the newly
established 14 companies, the HCWW has developed a reporting system that is now
producing substantial financial and technical information that can be used by
financing agencies and donors.

The people of Egypt suffer from disparities in the coverage of services. Although
much attention was directed towards provision of safe water supply, sanitation, on the
other hand, received less attention and gaps in coverage of services were created.
According to the 2005 UNDP human development report, only 78.2% of households
in Egypt have access to sanitation services compared to 97.5% receiving piped water
in the year 2004.

Moreover, coverage with sanitation services varies among regions throughout Egypt
with the least coverage reported in rural areas of Upper Egypt. Lack of sanitation
services in Egypt has created many environmental and public health problems.
Heavily populated areas such as Greater Cairo, where almost 25% of Egypt’s
population exist, are targeted for their contribution to pollution of the River Nile
through discharge of huge quantities of untreated or inadequately treated wastewater
into water canals and agricultural drains. Pollution of the River Nile is a disaster since
the river is the main source for surface water, and the leaking river water is the main
source for groundwater in Egypt.

The Greater Cairo Wastewater Project is one of the largest wastewater projects in the
world; it is serving a population of 20 million occupying an area of about 1100 square
kilometer. It includes a large conveyance system, major pumping stations and huge
treatment plants, that raised the capacity for Cairo wastewater system from 1.4 million
m3/day to 5.24 million m3/day and has significant impact on the wastewater services
in Cairo. This mega project was divided into three major subprojects according to the
geographic location of districts served in Greater Cairo along the banks of the River
Nile as follows:

• East Bank Project

• West Bank Project
• Helwan Project (South of Cairo)
Study of Wastewater Sector in Greater Cairo Final Report
Chemonics Egypt February 2006
Executive Summary 3

The area served by the Greater Cairo Wastewater Project lies in three main
governorates: Cairo, Giza and Qalubiya. The project efforts also include the
rehabilitation of the old pumping stations, treatment plants, and the drainage
improvement of the old sewers.

Construction of new projects within the three districts of Greater Cairo has been
proposed to improve service standards of local population, cope with population
increase, and improve environmental conditions of the River Nile. Some of these
projects is currently stagnant due to lack of financial resources. The local funds are
mainly directed to the construction of sewer networks where local technology exists
but construction of pumping stations and treatment facilities, which involves import
of foreign technology and equipment, requires financing by foreign funding
institutions.

In order to select projects on sound basis for possible funding by JBIC, the following
four principles were considered in settling rules for developing priority wastewater
projects:

• Achieve complete coverage of wastewater services since leaving any pockets

of unserved areas behind will certainly create a health hazard to all inhabitants.
• Achieve complete treatment of wastewater, up to the secondary treatment level
in order to safeguard the public health, protect the environment, and be able to
reuse the treatment effluent thus conserve the water resources.
• Provide safe disposal of wastewater into water bodies such as agricultural
drains and canals in order to combat pollution of the River Nile and freshwater
lakes in Egypt.
• Provide adequate treatment of sludge to be used as fertilizer or soil conditioner
for cultivating agricultural lands and reclaiming desert land in Egypt.

Considering the above principles and following constructive discussions with

concerned government officials, the Consultant recommends six wastewater projects
for possible funding by JBIC. These projects are ranked in the order of priority (from
highest to lowest). Furthermore, each project was briefly presented in a fact sheet.
The ranking order is based on the immediate need and the relative importance of each
project to the development of the wastewater sector. Details of each project as well as
tender documents are available in CAPWO for project appraisal.

1. “Ameria Pumping Station”, Second Stage Main Conveyance System, East

Bank, serving a population of 2 million (Required Foreign Funding 28 million
Euro).
2. “Third Stage Expansion of Gabal El-Asfar Wastewater Treatment Plant”, East
Bank Wastewater Project, serving a population of 2 million (Required Foreign
Funds 100 million Euro).
3. “Second Stage Expansion of Abu Rawash Wastewater Treatment Plant”, West
Bank Wastewater Project, serving a population of 4 million (Required Foreign
Funds 50 million Euro).
4. “Expansion of the Western Wastewater Treatment Plant in Alexandria
Governorate”, serving a population of 2 million (Required Foreign Funds 100
million Euro).
Study of Wastewater Sector in Greater Cairo Final Report
Chemonics Egypt February 2006
Executive Summary 4

5. “Expansion of the Eastern Wastewater Treatment Plant in Alexandria

Governorate”, serving a population of 2 million (Required Foreign Funds 90
million Euro.
6. “Expansion of Helwan Wastewater Treatment Plant”, Updating of Master
Plan, Helwan Project, serving a population of 2 million (required Foreign
Funds 50 million Euro).

Study of Wastewater Sector in Greater Cairo Final Report

Chemonics Egypt February 2006
 List of Abbreviations

CAPMAS Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics

CAPWO Organization for the Execution of the Greater Cairo & Alexandria
Potable Water and Wastewater Projects
CDM Camp, Dresser and Mckee
EEAA Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency
EEMP Egyptian Environmental Management Plan
EIB European Investment Bank
FINNIDA Finnish International Development Agency
GOE Government of Egypt
GOSD Cairo General Organization for Sanitary Drainage
HCWW Holding Company for Water and Wastewater
ICZMP Integrated Coastal Zone Management Program
IWRM Integrated Water Resources Management
JBIC Japan Bank for International Cooperation
KfW Kreditansalt Für Wiederaufban/German International Development
Agency
MALR Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation
ME Ministry of Environment
METAP Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program
MHP Ministry of Health and Population
MHUUC Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and New Communities
MIC Ministry of International Co-operation
MLD Ministry of Local Development
MOFA Ministry of Foreign Affairs
MOJ Ministry of Justice
MOP Ministry of Planning
MSEA Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs
MT Ministry of Transportation
MWRI Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation
NEAP National Environmental Action Plan
NOPWASD National Organizational for Potable Water and Sanitary Drainage
NSS National Spatial Strategy
O&M Operation and Maintenance
ORDEV Organization for the Development of the Egyptian Villages
PEA Public Economic Authority
SCF Save the Children Fund
UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
UNDP United Nations Development Program
UNEP United Nations Environment Program
USAID United States Agency for International Development
WHO World Health Organization
WTO World Trade Organization
 Technical Terms

BOD5 Biochemical Oxygen Demand after 5 days

COD Chemical Oxygen Demand
SS Suspended Solids
P.S. Pumping Station
WWTP Wastewater Treatment Plant
O&M Operation and Maintenance
BOOT Build, Operate, Own and Transfer
BOT Build, Operate and Transfer

Units

m meter
m3/d cubic meter per day
Mm3/d million cubic meter per day
km kilometer
kg kilogram
lcd Litre per capita per day
gcd gram per capita per day
ha hectare
mg/l milligram per litre
ppm parts per million

Consultants

ACE Arab Consulting Engineers (Moharram – bakhoum)

AMBRIC American British Consultants
BVI Black & Veatch International
CDM Camp, Dresser & Mckee International Inc.
Sabbour Sabbour and Assciates
TBP Taylor – Binnie & Partners, a joint venture of John Taylor & Sons and
Binnie & Partners
Chemonics Chemonics Egypt; Ahmad Gaber and Associates
 Table of Contents

Executive Summary
List of Abbreviations

1. Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Objectives and Scope

2. Outline of National Plans for Water Resources,

Environmental and Wastewater Management
2.1 Introduction
2.2 National Development Plan
2.3 Water Resources Development Plan
2.3.1 National Challenge and Available Resources
2.3.2 Management Plan Policy
2.3.3 Technical Measures
2.3.4 Environmental Measures
2.3.5 Institutional Measures
2.4 Environmental Management Plan
2.4.1 Environmental Problems
2.4.2 Objectives and Mechanisms
2.4.3 Contents of NEAP
2.5 Wastewater Management Plan
2.5.1 Role of the Wastewater Sector in the National
Development Plan
2.5.2 Coverage of Sanitation Services
2.5.3 High Groundwater Table in Villages
2.5.4 Capacity of Wastewater Treatment Plants
2.5.5 Efforts to Solve Sanitation Problems in Egypt
2.5.6 Size of Government Investment

3. Institutional Analysis of Water and Wastewater Sector in

Egypt/Greater Cairo
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Technical and Institutional Information
3.2.1 National Policy on Water Supply and Sanitation
3.2.2 Public Institutions
3.2.3 NOPWASD Organization and Staffing
3.2.4 Laws and Regulations
3.2.5 Current Sector Reforms
3.3 Establishment of the Holding Company for Water and
Wastewater
3.3.1 Organizational Structure
3.3.2 Status of Company Operations

1
 3.4 Economic and Financial Information
3.4.1 Cost Recovery and Tariffs
3.4.2 Tariff Amendments
3.4.3 Current Tariff

4. Present Situation for Wastewater System in Greater Cairo

4.1 Introduction
4.2 East Bank Project
4.3 West Bank Project
4.4 Helwan Project
4.5 Wastewater Treatment Plants
4.5.1 Gabal El Asfar WWTP
4.5.2 Abu Rawash WWTP
4.5.3 Helwan WWTP
4.5.4 Zenien WWTP
4.6 Effluent Management
4.6.1 Effluent Reuse in Egypt
4.6.2 Effluent Reuse Legislation in Egypt
4.6.3 Effluent Reuse Demand, Benefits and Risks
4.6.4 Effluent Reuse Code
4.6.5 Opportunities for Effluent Reuse in Greater Cairo

5. Assessment of Existing Infrastructure in Greater Cairo:

Future Plans and Analysis of Bottlenecks
5.2 East Bank Project
5.2.1 Background
5.2.2 Existing Facilities
5.2.3 Future Plans
5.3 West Bank Project
5.3.1 Background
5.3.2 Existing Facilities
5.3.3 Future Plans
5.4 Helwan Project
5.4.1 Background
5.4.2 Existing Facilities
5.4.3 Future Plans
5.5 Summary of Identified Bottlenecks
5.5.1 Environmental Issues
5.5.2 Operation and Maintenance Issues
5.5.3 Wastewater Treatment Plants

6. Donors Activities in the Water and Wastewater Sector in Egypt

6.1 Introduction
6.2 Spanish Government
6.3 KfW and GTZ (Germany)
6.4 French Government
6.5 DANIDA (Denmark)
6.6 DGIS (the Netherlands)
6.7 FINNIDA (Finland)

2
 6.8 USAID (U.S.A.)

7. Recommended Projects for Funding by JBIC

7.1 Overview
7.2 Key Issues
7.3 Selected Projects
7.4 Other Projects

Annexes
Annex (A)
The Environmental Law No. 4/1994

Annex (B)
Law No. 48/1982

3
 List of Tables

Table (1.1) Water and Sanitation Coverage Disparities in Developing

Countries
Table (1.2) Population of Egyptian Governorates by Urban and Rural
Population
Table (2.1) Current Water Resources in Egypt
Table (2.2) Percentage of Buildings Covered by Sanitation Services in
Egyptian Governorates
Table (2.3) Capacity of Wastewater Treatment Plants in Egypt
Table (2.4) National Investments in Water and Sanitation Sector (1982-
2002)
Table (3.1) Laws and Decrees Concerning Water and Wastewater Utilities
in Egypt
Table (3.2) Actual Cost of Water in Some Egyptian Governorates
Table (3.3) National Tariff
Table (3.4) Tariff for Residential Water and Sanitary Drainage in Egyptian
Governorates
Table (3.5) Detailed Tariff for Different Water Uses and Sanitary Drainage
in Greater Cairo (September 2004)
Table (4.1) List of Tunnels, Culverts, Gravity Sewers Contracts under the
East Bank Project
Table (4.2) List of Lift Pump Stations Contracts under the East Bank
Project
Table (4.3) Wastewater Treatment Plant Contract under the East Bank
Project
Table (4.4) Operation and Maintenance Contract under the East Bank
Project
Table (4.5 a) Completed Contracts for the Wastewater Project in the West
Bank (collectors)
Table (4.5 b) Completed Contracts for the Wastewater Project in the West
Bank (lift pump stations)
Table (4.5 c) Completed Contracts for the Wastewater Project in the West
Bank (treatment plants)
Table (4.5 d) Completed Contracts for the Wastewater Project in the West
Bank (improvement of the drains)
Table (4.5 e) Completed Contracts for the Wastewater Project in the West
Bank (sludge disposal facilities)
Table (4.5 f) Completed Contracts for the Wastewater Project in the West
Bank (dewatering pilot wastewater treatment plant)
Table (4.5 g) Areas served by the Wastewater Project in the West Bank
Table (4.6 a) Completed Contracts under Helwan Project (networks and
collectors)
Table (4.6 b) Completed Contracts under Helwan Project (lift pump stations)
Table (4.6 c) Completed Contracts under Helwan Project (wastewater
treatment)
Table (4.7) Maximum permitted for Reusing Treated Wastewater Effluent
and Degree of Treatment

4
 List of Tables

Table (4.8) Reusing Treated Wastewater Effluent in Agriculture: Degree of

Treatment, Plant and Soil Types, and Method of Irrigation
Table (5.1) West Bank Screw Pump Stations
Table (5.2) Expected Hydraulic Capacities from the Different Districts of
Helwan Wastewater Project
Table (7.1) Recommended Projects for Funding by JBIC in Greater Cairo
Table (7.2) Additional Projects in Alexandria

5
 List of Figures

Figure (3.1) Organization Structure for the Holding Company for Water and
Wastewater (HCWW)
Figure (4.1 a) Main Components of the Greater Cairo Wastewater Project
(East and West Bank)
Figure (4.1 b) Main Components of the Greater Cairo Wastewater Project
(Helwan)
Figure (4.2) Development of the Wastewater System Capacity in Greater
Cairo (Years 1914-2005)
Figure (4.3) East Bank Schematic Flow Diagram (2005)
Figure (4.4) East Bank Projects Map
Figure (4.5) East Bank Contracts
Figure (4.6) West Bank Wastewater Project
Figure (4.7) West Project: Current Flow/Year 2005
Figure (4.8) Helwan Wastewater Project
Figure (4.9) Helwan Contract
Figure (4.10) Greater Cairo Wastewater Treatment Plants
Figure (5.1) Masterplan of 1978 for the East Bank of Greater Cairo
Figure (5.2) Sewered Areas
Figure (5.3) Proposed Connection between Ain-Shams and Gabal Al-Asfar
Figure (5.4) GCWWP Facilities Location Plan
Figure (5.5) West Bank Projects
Figure (5.6) Service Areas 1995

6
1: Introduction
Introduction 1-1

1. INTRODUCTION

Water supply and sanitation is an issue of high priority in Egypt due to its valuable
social and economic return. Despite the progress in providing water supply and
sanitation services during the last 20 years, the quality and sustainability of this
coverage is inadequate. Coverage of such services varies among regions nationwide,
and from urban areas to rural areas. This chapter presents an overview of the water
supply and sanitation in Egypt along with the objectives and scope of this study.

1.1 Background
Egypt had suffered for a long time from inadequate infrastructure up till the early
1980’s as the economic resources of the country were mainly directed to the armed
forces since the country was engaged in a number of wars which exhausted the
country’s resources. This was reflected in the water and sanitation sector where
people suffer from disparities in the coverage of services. Although much attention
was directed towards provision of safe water supply, sanitation on the other hand
received less attention and gaps in coverage of services were created. In fact, Egypt is
ranked among the highest developing countries concerning the coverage gaps between
water supply and sanitation in the year 1993 but the gaps was reduced in the year
2004 as shown in Table 1.1. Moreover, coverage of sanitation services varies among
regions all over Egypt, and also varies from urban areas to rural areas. About 21.7%
of the total number of buildings in Egypt are connected to wastewater networks, and
63.3% dispose of wastewater through other alternatives, while the remaining 15% are
deprived of sanitation services (Chemonics Egypt – UNICEF Report, 2005). On the
other hand, it has been also shown that, in rural areas only 6% of Egyptian Villages
are provided with sanitation services, and 7% shall be served after completing the
sanitation projects under construction, while the remaining 87% are deprived of
sanitation services.

The Egyptian Government and Parliament councils think carefully and deeply over
the water and wastewater issue. Provision of safe water and sanitation services is
considered essential rights for citizens which should be emphasized, while assuring
good quality of water and limiting its contamination. The Egyptian Government is
acting to reduce the gap between urban and rural areas nationwide, as regards water
supply and sanitation services by concentrating efforts on Upper Egypt governorates
and raising the percentage of water and wastewater coverage. The population of
Egyptian governorates by urban and rural sectors is presented in Table 1.2 according
to the 1996 census records.

There is a steady increase of population in Egypt reaching about 72 million in the year
2005. The increase of population generates a great pressure on the water and
wastewater sector to face the increasing demand on these two services. The Egyptian
Government considered the water supply and sanitation issue of high priority due to
its valuable social and economic return. The total investments spent on water and
wastewater services during the period 1982-2005 amounted to LE 60 billion. In spite
of the steady increase of population during this period, the water per capita share was
duplicated, and the wastewater services per capita share was increased to 6 times.

Study of Wastewater Sector in Greater Cairo Final Report

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Introduction 1-2

Nevertheless, there still exist problems facing the sector which limit the ultimate
benefit from these investments, this was reflected on the level of service delivered.
The studies and reports on water and wastewater problems in Egypt indicated the
necessity of collaborating the efforts of different ministries and authorities to solve
and overcome the problems facing the water and wastewater sector. The apparent
variation in service delivery between urban and rural areas in Egypt has a great effect
in policy development and investment plans to reduce the gap between rural and
urban areas in this regard. Despite the progress in providing water supply and
sanitation services during the last 20 years, the quality and sustainability of this
coverage is threatened by problems related to institutional structure and support.
Under the current trend to reform the sector and solve the problems and constraints
facing this vital sector, significant steps were taken and Presidential and Ministerial
Decrees were issued towards sector reform and cost recovery. The existing water and
wastewater authorities are currently under transformation into autonomous
companies.

1.2 Objectives and Scope

In recognition of the importance of the wastewater sector in Egypt, the Japan Bank for
International Cooperation (JBIC) has requested Chemonics Egypt to conduct a study
on the wastewater sector in Greater Cairo for potential cooperation in this sector. The
study covers the following items:
• Outline of National Development Plan, Water Resource Management Plan,
Environment Management Plan, Sewerage Development Plan (long-term and
short-term).
• Current situation on sewerage process in Greater Cairo (mapping of treatment
plants and sewer pipes, drainage system, reuse and recycle of treated water).
• Review on existing infrastructure in Greater Cairo (treatment plants, pumping
stations, collection facilities, sewer pipes, drainage facilities) and analysis on
bottlenecks.
• New infrastructure projects and financing plan, including preparation of master
plan and feasibility studies for Greater Cairo.
• Organizational structure and tariff policy including future plan for Greater Cairo.
• Donor activities in sewerage sector.
• Policy recommendation to JBIC on the possibility of cooperation for sewerage
sector in Egypt.

The data and information provided in the study are collected from reports and
interviews with concerned authorities. Although the study is focused on the
wastewater services in Greater Cairo, an overview of the developments in the
wastewater sector nationwide is also included.

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Introduction 1-3

Table 1.1: Water and Sanitation Coverage Disparities in Developing Countries*

Country % Access to Safe % Access to % Gap

Water Sanitation
Egypt** 83 29 54
India 81 29 52
Bangladesh 97 48 49
China 67 24 43
Brazil 72 44 28
Pakistan 74 47 27
Congo, D. Rep. 42 18 24
Viet Nam 43 22 21
Myanmar 60 43 17
Mexico 83 72 11
Iran 90 81 9
Philippines 86 77 9
Indonesia 61 53 8
Ethiopia 25 19 6
Nigeria 51 58 -7

* Data from 1993 to 1995, except Brazil and Ethiopia (1991).

** Gap was reduced by the year 2004 where 97.5% had access to safe water while 78.2% had access
to sanitation.

Sources: WHO, Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council and UNICEF, Water Supply and
Sanitation Sector Monitoring Report: 1996.

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Introduction 1-4

Table 1.2 Population of Egyptian Governorates by Urban and Rural Population

Urban
Rural Population Urban Population Total Population Population /Total
Governorate
Population
Males Females Total Males Females Total Males Females Total
Cairo 0 0 0 3,835,131 3,661,997 7,497,128 3,835,131 3,661,997 7,497,128 100
Giza 1,128,781 1,060,319 2,189,100 1,674,917 1,562,775 3,237,692 2,803,698 2,623,094 5,426,792 59.66
Qalubiya 1,054,772 987,405 2,042,177 870,079 819,228 1,689,307 1,924,851 1,806,633 3,731,484 45.27
Alexandria 0 0 0 1,885,206 1,806,053 3,691,259 1,885,206 1,806,053 3,691,259 100
Beheira 1,761,018 1,697,952 3,458,970 539,338 516,726 1,056,064 2,300,356 2,214,678 4,515,034 23.39
Matrouh 64,858 57,313 122,171 69,329 63,424 132,753 134,187 120,737 254,924 52.08
Menufiya 1,277,608 1,201,836 2,479,444 324,479 308,495 632,974 1,602,087 1,510,331 3,112,418 20.34
Gharbiya 1,312,968 1,288,794 2,601,762 603,845 586,508 1,190,353 1,916,813 1,875,302 3,792,115 31.39
Kafr El-Sheikh 964,807 947,161 1,911,968 288,501 291,923 580,424 1,253,308 1,239,084 2,492,392 23.29
Damietta 381,666 363,413 745,079 147,678 143,457 291,135 529,344 505,870 1,035,214 28.12
Daqahliya 1,751,965 1,682,669 3,434,634 666,516 645,083 1,311,599 2,418,481 2,327,752 4,746,233 27.63
North Sinai 62,944 60,483 123,427 90,661 80,830 171,491 153,605 141,313 294,918 58.15
South Sinai 17,263 14,232 31,495 20,472 10,294 30,766 37,735 24,526 62,261 49.41
Port Said 0 0 0 267,360 254,189 521,549 267,360 254,189 521,549 100
Ismailia 211,018 200,581 411,599 210,867 202,898 413,765 421,885 403,479 825,364 50.13
Suez 0 0 0 240,238 229,038 469,276 240,238 229,038 469,276 100
Sharqiya 1,953,036 1,843,358 3,796,394 569,647 540,355 1,110,002 2,522,683 2,383,713 4,906,396 22.62
Beni Suef 847,193 807,855 1,655,048 257,226 249,462 506,688 1,104,419 1,057,317 2,161,736 23.44
Minya 1,600,749 1,530,793 3,131,542 381,114 361,993 743,107 1,981,863 1,892,786 3,874,649 19.18
Fayoum 936,408 867,802 1,804,210 268,134 248,564 516,698 1,204,542 1,116,366 2,320,908 22.26
Assyout 1,224,072 1,171,010 2,395,082 459,913 425,906 885,819 1,683,985 1,596,916 3,280,901 27
New Valley 42,816 40,880 83,696 41,577 37,400 78,977 84,393 78,280 162,673 48.55
Sohag 1,467,745 1,403,487 2,871,232 402,021 381,342 783,363 1,869,766 1,784,829 3,654,595 21.44
Qena 1,112,571 1,107,729 2,220,300 304,681 292,176 596,857 1,417,252 1,399,905 2,817,157 21.19
Asswan 308,068 312,842 620,910 231,559 224,753 456,312 539,627 537,595 1,077,222 42.36
Red Sea 27,820 18,139 45,959 73,816 59,048 132,864 101,636 77,187 178,823 74.3
Luxor City 110,482 106,934 217,416 98,058 91,434 189,492 208,540 198,368 406,908 46.57
Total 19,620,628 18,772,987 38,393,615 14,822,363 14,095,351 28,917,714 34,442,991 32,867,338 67,310,329 42.96
Source: Data of Ministry of Local Development , based on estimation of Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), 2003

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2. Outline of National Plans for Water Resources,
Environmental and Wastewater Management
Outline of National Plans for Water Resources, Environmental and Wastewater Management 2-1

2. OUTLINE OF NATIONAL PLANS FOR WATER

RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENAL AND WASTEWATER
MANAGEMENT

2.1 Introduction
This chapter presents the national development plan for Egypt as well as the specific
plans to develop the water resources, wastewater, and environmental management in the
country. Such plans outline the main features of development in each sector.

2.2 National Development Plan

The aim of the national plan is to achieve integrated development in the various fields
through a bundle of strategic objectives taking into consideration available resources
and the economic, demographic, social, and institutional indicators. The first five-year
plan in Egypt started in 1982. The last national plan started in 1997 for the following 20
years and was divided into four consecutive 5-year plans. The main features of the plan
is summarized below:

1. Expanding the scope of development to the whole country, trying to explore wealth
and new resources, get out of the narrow valley that constitutes only 5.5% of
Egypt’s territory, and expand the residential zone to 25% of the total area.
2. Pushing the development growth rate from its current level of 4.8% to 6.8% during
the first 5- year plan and to 7.6% thereafter up to 2017.
3. Doubling the gross domestic product (GDP) every 10 years, i.e. reaching four times
the current GDP of LE 257 billion ($ 76 billion) by 2017.
4. Increasing the per capita share of GDP from its current level of LE 4,270 ($ 1,250)
to at least LE 13,750 ($ 4,100).
5. The accelerated development will reduce the deficit in trade balance and achieve
remarkable surplus by the end of the 6th five-year plan and big surplus thereafter.
6. Developing a set of flexible economical, financial, and cash policies to suit
fluctuating situations and help in maintaining inflation as low as possible, so that it
keeps lower than 5% annually at any case.
7. Making effort to balance the general budget towards achieving gradual and
continuous increase in surplus within a frame of economic stability that provides the
correct atmosphere for productive development. This would lead to stability of
exchange rate for the Egyptian currency against foreign currency.
8. Generating about 550 thousand new job opportunities annually. This would
compensate the population growth and reduce the current unemployment. This
would lead to stop unemployment by the 4th five-year plan (1997-2002) and increase
the labor force from 15.8 million currently to 26.8 million by the end of the 7th five-
year plan 2017.

In order to achieve the above objectives it is necessary to obtain, in average, annually

100 billion Egyptian Pound investments, at least for the coming 20 years. This

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investment sum represents at least 25% of the GDP. To obtain this amount of
investments, the strategic development plan recommends directing efforts to:

• Maximize national resources and increase local saving potential

• Seeking foreign investments to close the gap between local savings and required
investments
• Encouraging the private sector to act as a political partner in the development
process
• Considering limited number of basic services and strategic projects
• Paying special attention to the social dimensions of the development process
through protecting the weak classes of the society
• Supporting and reinforcing research and development institutions to cope with new
scientific and technological revolutions to be able to maximize benefits for the
society
• Establishing a time schedule to maximize the given benefits to developing nations
during the current allowance period before applying the new regulations of the
World Trade Organization

2.3 Water Resources Development Plan

Water is one of the most important resources in Egypt and has direct impact on
agricultural development. The fresh water resources are limited in Egypt. The country
will face increasing water-related problems, if no additional measures will be taken.

2.3.1 National Challenge and Available Resources

The growing population of Egypt and related urban, industrial and agricultural activities
have increased and will further increase the demand for water to a level that reaches the
limits of the available supply. Moreover, pollution of the water is threatening public
health and reduces the amount of good quality water even more. The Government of
Egypt recognized these problems since long and has initiated major programs to
improve the performance of the water resources system. The current water resources are
presented in Table 2.1. The amount of water used for drinking is estimated to be about
8.8 billion m3/year and the rest is used for irrigating agricultural land.

Table 2.1: Current water resources in Egypt

Source Amount billion

m3/year
River Nile 55.5
Reuse of agriculture drain water 3.7
Groundwater in Delta and Wadi 4.1
Deep Ground water 0.6
Total 63.9
Source: National Water Resource Plan for Egypt, Interim Report No.2, Planning Sector, Ministry of
Water Resources and Irrigation, Cairo, Egypt, July 2002.

The national development plan, up to 2017, is aiming at increasing the water resources
and saving in the water used for agriculture through changing the crops-structure by
reducing the crops requiring high water duties and optimizing water irrigation systems
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and water use in general. Reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture is viable and could
add an additional three billion m3 of water yearly for expanding the agricultural land.
Deep groundwater in Sinai and the Western and Eastern Deserts have a good potential
of adding more than three billion m3 of water annually.

2.3.2 Management Plan Policy

The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI) plays a key-role in the
development and management of the water system in the country. The present policy of
the ministry tries to achieve the national objectives by developing new water resources,
improving the efficiency of the present use, and protecting the environment and health
through preventing pollution to reach watercourses. Some of these objectives are
achieved through cooperation with other ministries such as the Ministry of Agriculture
and Land Reclamation (MALR), the Ministry of Housing, Utilities and New
Communities (MHUNC), the Ministry of Health and Population (MHP), the Ministry of
Local Development (MLD) and The Ministry of Environment (ME).

The water resources policy is based on the draft strategy “Facing the Challenge” and
employs the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and takes
into account all national policy objectives. Such strategy was presented by the Planning
Sector, Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI) in July 2002. The draft
strategy “Facing the Challenge” call for an integrated strategy, consisting of a coherent
set of measures. The measures are grouped into three main categories:
a) A more efficient use of the available water resources
b) Development of additional water resources, and
c) Improvement of water quality to protect public health and environment

A more efficient use of the available water resources would entail improvement of the
irrigation systems; installation of tile drainage systems and rehabilitation of old drainage
network; rehabilitation of irrigation and drainage pumping stations; replacement and
rehabilitation of the existing barrages and structures on the Nile and main canals; and
introduction of new varieties as early maturing and salt tolerant crops.

In terms of new water resources, it is fair to admit that the possibilities to develop
additional resources are limited. Deep groundwater withdrawal in the Western Desert
can be developed up to an amount of 3.5Billion m3/ year, but this is not a sustainable
solution and should be carefully monitored. Small amounts can be developed from
rainfall and flash flood harvesting in addition to the use of brackish groundwater. Thus,
cooperation with the Nile Basin riparian countries is carried out through joint
agreements to develop river-shared resources.

MWRI is taking preventive measures and long-term policies to protect water quality
and control pollution. The long term policies to control pollution include: coverage of
open conveyance system passing through urban system to closed conduits; coordination
committee with other concerned ministries were formulated to put priorities for
wastewater treatment plants due to budget limitation; and the introduction of
environmentally safe weed control methods (mechanical, biological and manual) and
banning the use of chemical herbicides.

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2.3.3 Technical Measures

Measures aiming at a better use of existing resources focus mainly on improving the
efficiency of the water resources system. The draft strategy presented by MWRI
includes a careful re-evaluation of planned horizontal expansion projects and
recommends considering a possible reduction in the area of horizontal expansion in
relation to the availability of water (realistic approach). The same applies to the
cultivation of high water consuming crops such as rice and sugarcane. The activities of
the Irrigation Improvement Projects (IIP) should continue among other measures to
improve water use efficiency. Applying intermediate reuse of drainage water allowing a
higher permissible salinity. Moreover, a different water allocation and distribution
system that will be based on equity to decrease the losses in the system should be
considered. Improving water resources system requires improving the operation and
maintenance of the system through good institutional structure with strong Water
Boards and Water Users Associations. A mix of infrastructural and financial measures
can improve the municipal and industrial water use efficiency.

2.3.4 Environmental Measures

The strategy to protect the environment and public health includes several packages of
combined infrastructural, financial and institutional measures. Priority is given to
measures, which first prevent and then alleviate pollution. This includes promoting and
supporting cleaner production technology, clean products, and reallocation of certain
industries. Encouraging the use of more environmentally friendly methods and agro-
chemicals in agriculture. Treatment of municipal wastewater and consider a reliable
approach for rural sanitation. The last resort is to control the pollution by diverting it
away from urban and important ecological sites, and sensitive areas such as
groundwater wells and intakes of public water supply. Raising public awareness should
be considered also as an effective mean of reducing negative environmental impacts.

2.3.5 Institutional Measures

The MWRI strategy also includes a number of institutional measures. The initial
process of decentralization and private sector participation should be strengthened.
Restructuring the MWRI by establishing integrated inspectorates to enhance the role of
the ministry should be considered. Cost sharing and pricing mechanisms have to be
implemented to make the changes sustainable, at least with respect to operation and
maintenance. Improving data and information exchange-system with different related
authorities and coordinating investment activities are important measures. Involving
stakeholders, with particular attention to the role of women, in the various water
management tasks and strengthening their ownership feelings towards public property
should be enhanced.

Beyond 2017, when Egypt is successful in implementing the above measures, several
national objectives will be achieved. The GDP and employment in agriculture will
increase substantially, and the drinking water supply and sanitation situation will
improve. Further development, after 2017, may require that some drastic policy
decisions to be taken, at the national level, e.g. in relation to reducing the role of
agriculture in the Egyptian economy and increasing developments in the industrial
sector.

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2.4 National Environmental Management Plan

The Egyptian Environmental Management Plan (EEMP) is based on Egypt’s agenda for
environmental action that has been developed in 2002 for the following 15 years. The
plan was developed in consultation with central and local public bodies, and non-
governmental agencies. It is designed to compliment plans for economic growth and
social development with the objective of supporting sustainable development. The 15-
year, long-term plan is divided into three medium-term, five-year plans, each depends
on the overall policy and priorities set by the Government for each period. The National
Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) is the main environmental source document for the
sectoral action plans developed by the individual line ministries in preparing their five-
year plans. The first NEAP was developed in 1992 and presented in the Earth Summit
in Rio. The updated NEAP of 2002 reflects the changes that have taken place both
within Egypt and globally towards sustainable development taking into consideration
the three components, namely economic growth, social development, and
environmental protection.

Among the opportunities and threats to the development in Egypt are the changes in the
external environment: liberalization of trade, formation of economic blocks, and the
rapid advancement in communication and information technology. The position of the
country in the global arena determines whether such changes become threats or
opportunities. Egypt has successfully implemented a program for economic reform and
structural adjustment. Among the outcomes of economic reform are reasonably stable
exchange rates, reforms in the financial sectors, and establishing an active stock market.
Direct foreign and local investments have increased in several economic sectors,
particularly agriculture, industry and tourism. The expansion of these economic sectors
has put pressure on limited resources and added more burdens in managing resulting
wastes. The high population growth rate is another pressure transforming the internal
environment. Despite that national education and awareness programs led to 1%
reduction in growth rate, according to 1996 census almost 38% of the population are
under 15 years of age, i.e. it is considered a young society. Resources to meet the needs
of this growing population are extremely limited and strained and thus threatening the
sustainable development.

2.4.1 Environmental Problems

• Major environmental issues and concerns, which challenge Egypt today cover the
degradation of land, air, and water resources; and the pressing need to preserve the
cultural heritage and natural biodiversity.

• Land is subject to desertification, loss of soil productivity through increasing

salinity, and loss of agricultural land due to creep of random housing and other
human activities.

• Air pollution in major cities has reached levels that affect public health, cause
economic losses, and also damage historical sites.

• Egypt has limited natural fresh water, mainly the river Nile. As the river flows from
Aswan down to the Mediterranean Sea, many land-based and point sources of
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pollution reach the Nile through drainage canals. The sources of pollution include
agricultural run-off, raw or partially treated wastewater, and industrial effluents.

• Coastal development, construction of tourist villages, oil production are

development activities, which threaten the natural heritage of Egypt such as coral
reefs, marine and beach habitat, and affect the livelihoods of many citizens.

• Solid waste disposal from residential and industrial communities is another

problem that threatens the environment and requires immediate intervention.

• The World Trade Organization (WTO) is attempting to include environmental

quality as an issue governing trade treaties, which in turn affects global market
demands. The lack of strict enforcement of environmental standards in Egypt has,
therefore, passive effects on competitiveness of Egyptian products and eventually
impacts the economic growth.

2.4.2 Objectives and Mechanisms

In response to globalization, sustainable development through integrating environmental

dimension in the development process has evolved as a key concept for current and
future development initiatives. The aim is to achieve economic growth that promotes
social quality without negatively impacting environmental resources. The mechanism is
to engage stakeholders in the three dimensions of the development process, namely,
economic growth, social development, and environmental protection. This leads to
considering the assessment of different options; selection and implementation of
accepted actions, proposing mitigations to reduce negative impacts, and monitoring and
follow up on plans. These should be integrated to program and project feasibility
analysis. Other considerations can include poverty alleviation in so much as economic
development of the whole of society; thus encouraging political stability.

2.4.3 Contents of NEAP

The NEAP document has given account on the following:

1. Mechanism of introducing participatory planning techniques in updating NEAP;

2. Major environmental issues hindering sustainable development in Egypt;
3. Driving forces creating pressures on the environment;
4. Proposed responses to each environmental issue;
5. Intervening economic and social measures;
6. Institutional requirements;
7. International cooperation;
8. Financial measures; and
9. Mechanisms for monitoring and verifying implementation of the NEAP.

1- Mechanism of introducing participatory planning techniques in updating NEAP

This process was achieved in three stages. During the first stage, stakeholders including
NGOs, environmental and gender experts, members of national universities, business
community representatives, labor-force representatives, youth, and media were invited
to workshops sessions aiming at problem identification and prioritization. During the

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second stage, issue-specific working groups developed strategic framework that led,
after discussions, to formal plan. The third stage has the objective of allocating the
required finance and resource mobilization and that is open-ended.

2- Major environmental issues hindering sustainable development in Egypt

The environmental issues, which concerns the stakeholders in Egypt, include:

• Fresh water resources and water pollution
• Air pollution
• Land limitations, soil degradation and erosion
• Loss and degradation of cultural heritage
• Desertification
• Water quality degradation of marine environment and northern lakes
• Solid waste management including municipal and industrial wastes as well as
sewage sludge
• Biodiversity degradation and destruction of habitat
• Natural environmental hazards such as earthquakes, flash floods, and dust & sand
storms

3- Driving forces creating pressures on the environment

Driving forces creating pressures on the environment in Egypt are numerous. One of the
major environmental problems is the rapid population growth and informal human
settlements. The agricultural sector and associated activities, which result in about 18%
of total GDP and 20% of commodity exports, contribute to significant environmental
pressures. Fishing activities serving a traditional and important component of the
Egyptian diet has resulted in overexploitation of all Egyptian water bodies.
Manufacturing and mining, which employ about 20% of the active labor power and
contribute to 30% of the GDP is the major user of both renewable and nonrenewable
natural resources and also considered a significant source of air and water pollution. The
increasing consumption and demands for energy from conventional resources to serve
expanding industry, which is the main pillar of economic development, is a driving
force creating pressure on the environment. Transportation is the second most energy-
demanding economic sector following manufacturing. Its impact on environment is
quite significant and clear. Tourism relies on the utilization of natural, historic, cultural,
and human resources in the local environment. This can lead to a considerable pressure
on the environment that attracts tourists.

Environmental degradation has its cost. Pollution is closely associated with health
problems, which impact negatively the economy and threatens the sustainability of the
development in Egypt.

The institutional setup within which environmental policy is implemented in Egypt

faces a number of difficulties. The lack of comprehensive data and up-to-date
information is a severe limitation on decision-making and monitoring. The major
problem is the multiplicity of implementing organizations that require coordination to
achieve effective delivery of environmental policy. Furthermore, there are cultural
constraints. Another barrier is that Egypt’s human resources are weak in terms of
environmental expertise, thus posing another difficulty in implementation of
environmental policy.
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4- Proposed responses to environmental issues

a) Water
The major challenges facing the water sector in Egypt is to close the gab between the
limited water resources and the escalating demand for water, while ensuring the
sustainable use of water resources. To face this challenge, Egypt is initiating programs
aiming at optimizing the use of conventional resources and making use of non-
conventional resources more feasible.

The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI) is responsible to provide all
other sectors in Egypt with their needs of fresh water in due time. The MWRI is
mandated to construct, supervise, operate and maintain all irrigation structures and
drainage networks, and also to control and manage all fresh water resources in Egypt.
The Environmental Law No. 4/1994 has been issued to protect the environment in
Egypt in general, see Annex A. The law refers to Law 48/1982 (Annex B) that deals
with pollution abatement in all water resources in Egypt.

b) Air
The Government of Egypt (GOE), through the Ministry of State for Environmental
Affairs (MSEA) and Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) and relevant
ministries such as Ministry of Transportation (MT) is currently adopting various
measures to control air pollution sources and recommended programs to be
implemented by 2017 with regard to ambient air quality:
Forming a strategy for controlling pollution and preventing smog episodes;
Managing auto exhausts and protecting air quality in urban and rural areas; and
Reducing pollution from industrial activities within human settlements and managing
and controlling air pollution from existing large industries and power plants

c) Land
The sustainable use of land means finding a balance that attains the greatest benefits for
social and economic development whilst still protecting and enhancing the environment.
The GOE has developed a National Spatial Strategy (NSS) through the Ministry of
Planning (MOP), with the support of UNDP for land uses and spatial economic
development. The strategy divides Egypt into seven planning regions. A land use map
was accordingly developed and presented as the Investment Map in the economic forum
held in Cairo during 1997.

Proper land management is necessary to protect biological diversity, utilize the land in a
sustainable way. Securing property rights, accounting for protected areas and habitats,
and the rights of local communities including the local indigenous groups is a necessary
part of reaching sustainable uses of land. Sound environmental management of
agriculture and rural development as well as implementing environmentally sound
management of urban settlements are the two key elements considered by the GOE for
land management leading to sustainable land use.

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d) Combating desertification and managing drought

The formation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD),
adopted in Paris in 1994 and ratified in 1996, with the active participation of Egypt gave
emphasis to combating the major threats to sustainability in countries of dry land. The
convention also defined combating desertification as “activities, which are part of the
integrated development of land in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas for
sustainable development”, which aimed at:
• Prevention and/or reduction of land degradation;
• Rehabilitation of partly degraded land; and
• Reclamation of desertified land.

e) Protecting Egypt’s marine environment

Coastal and marine environment located on the Mediterranean and Red Seas are among
the major habitats in Egypt. This environment is very rich in terms of biodiversity and
includes some of the nation’s most important natural resources. However,
uncoordinated development took place along most of the country’s coastline without
sufficient consideration of environmental consequences. Available information on the
sources of pollution on marine life is limited. The development of an integrated coastal
zone management plan is, therefore, of prime importance.

With the passing of Law 4/1994 for managing and protecting the environment, the
EEAA has the authority to coordinate national coastal zone management activities. The
EEAA established also a national committee to develop an Integrated Coastal Zone
Management Program (ICZMP). A major component of the program is protecting
coastal water from pollution.

f) Environmentally sound management of solid wastes

Unsustainable consumption is increasing the amount and variety of produced solid
wastes. Waste management charges could ensure that those who generate the wastes
must pay the full cost of environmentally safe disposal. This will make waste recycling
and resource recovery cost effective. The GOE is exerting a great effort in removing the
piles of solid wastes that have accumulated over the past years, and increasing
efficiency of waste collection, treatment and disposal. The MSEA and the EEAA have
formulated a national program for the proper management of waste in Egypt and this
program is currently under implementation. The state is currently applying 13 project
concerned with solid waste treatment divided into first priority, which includes
municipal solid waste, agricultural solid waste, medical waste, and construction and
demolition waste. The second priority is hazardous industrial wastes.

g) Biological diversity conservation

One of the major functions of EEAA is its responsibility for nature conservation in
Egypt, protect and manage the nation’s wild resources, by conserving Egypt’s
biological diversity, preserving a spectacular sample of the country’s geomorphology in
undisturbed state, and ensuring that the management and use of wild resources is
sustainable. For achieving this aim, EEAA has adopted and implemented various
measures and programs to meet these challenges. Some of these programs are in
progress and others are still in initial stages.

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h) Emerging issues
There are several emerging issues at present, which have to be considered in
environmental plans such as biosafety, risks associated with the release of
biotechnology products, and release of genetically modified organisms (GMO). In 2000,
the EEAA, with financial support from UNEP, produced a framework for a national
biosafety instrument, including draft legislation, which has been reviewed by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Ministry of Justice (MOJ), but still needs
further review and refinement before being considered as legislation by the MSEA.

5- Intervening social and economic measures

Environmental degradation impacts some social classes more directly than others, either
because of their nature, race, ages, social and cultural aspects, or their intimate relation
with the environmental problems. Special programs are tailored within the NEAP for
sub-population groups, particularly children, youth, women, elderly, physically
disabled, and marginalized people.

To increase efforts for environmental protection, more regional economic cooperation

and well-formulated environmental policies are required. Economic issues related to
environment that should be considered include globalization of economy,
environmental and natural resource accounting, and the use of economic instruments.
These economic tools may facilitate the implementation of the environmental regulation
by providing economic incentives and disincentives to complement existing direct
regulatory instruments.

6- Institutional requirements

Although Egypt has a long history of environmental legislation, compliance is weak

because enforcement is not efficient enough. Egypt needs to strengthen the institutional
mechanism necessary for environmental management. There are about 17 ministries
involved in the administration of around 81 laws and numerous decrees with
environmental components. Broadly speaking, all infrastructure projects and a good
many other activities by the line ministries have environmental implications. In addition
there are 40 governmental organizations involved in environment, however, this listing
is not comprehensive as there are other aspects of official activity that also impact
environment.
The implementation of environmental policy is dependant on the country’s ability to set
up appropriate institutional structures with clear mandates and the necessary
infrastructure to carry out these mandates. Institutions need to have clear mission
statement, an adequate personnel management system, sound budgeting system, a
continuous training program for internal capacity building, as well as access to the
environmental and other public information systems.

7- International cooperation
Egypt has signed and ratified most of the international and regional environmental
agreements since 1933, the year of signing the London agreement for the protection of
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the flora and fauna of Africa. Egyptian scientists and scholars have made substantial
contribution as leader of international organizations and as architects of international
agreements for the protection of the global environment. Egypt was present in the
formal meetings of the sixth session of the Conference of Parties of the Climate Change
Convection in the Hague, November 2000. As one of the developing countries and one
of the Group of 77, Egypt is stressing that all parties should have a real voice in
negotiations, that priorities of developing countries must take a front seat and that
parties have to reach an agreement at the next meeting on a comprehensive package of
decisions on all issues covered by the Buenos Aires Plan of Action.

Egypt has an obligation to sign and ratify international and regional environmental
agreements, which are seen to be of potential benefit to the country. The NEAP needs to
take into consideration all these international agreements and incorporate into its
proposed actions their inherent obligations. The most emerging global/regional issues
that are addressed in the NEAP are the problem of climate change, regional cooperation
concerning Mediterranean Action Plan and bilateral and international cooperation
programs.

8- Financial measures
Sustainable financing will be needed to finance the projects that constitute the NEAP.
Following the five-year plan financing guidelines, Egypt will seek additional funds to
those allocated through the state as part of stakeholder partnership. More effective
enforcement of current regulations, improved legislation based on the polluter pays
principle, and the use of economic instruments will encourage private investment in the
environment.

Programs and projects developed at the local and community level may be funded with
loans from the Environmental Fund or the Social Development Fund. Such activities
should wherever possible be self sustained through the development of cost recovery
mechanisms for the provision of whatever environmental service.

The NEAP proposed three sources for financing the environmental projects, namely,
state budget, using conventional financing tools such as banks, and non-conventional
institutions/sources such as Environmental Protection Fund, ecotourism, green credit
card, or individual and corporate donations.

9- Mechanisms for monitoring and verifying implementation of the NEAP

The NEAP has presented guidelines to be used as a measure for accomplished tasks and
other programs that still need to be implemented. The critical path method (CPM) is
used for developing project timelines and schedules, and is applied to NEAP programs
to provide a general timeframe and plan for implementation. It also includes an analysis
of planning implications and considerations with reference to the model offered for
implementations.

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2.5 Wastewater Management Plan

2.5.1 Role of Wastewater Sector in the National Development Plan
The wastewater affairs in Egypt are viewed as a part of the water and sanitation sector.
The Egyptian water and sanitation sector is a patchwork of institutions, technologies,
and types and levels of service. There is no distinct or clear management plan that
governs the various on-going or planned activities in this sector. However, the
wastewater sector is considered of utmost importance to the national development plan
for its contribution to the social and economic welfare through its role in the protection
of the environment, safeguard of public health, and generation of thousands of new job
opportunities annually.

Despite of the general policies taken by the GOE towards decentralization and
economic liberalization, the water and wastewater sector is only now starting to take
steps to decentralize management nationwide and devote financial planning and
management to the governorate levels through water / wastewater companies under the
umbrella of the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW). Water supply
and sanitation services today are still charged at less than cost. Appropriate policies for
penalizing customers who do not pay are not in force, and government and public sector
premises as well as religious institutions are often not paying their bills.

There is a pronounced regional bias in water supply versus sanitation service coverage.
Cities in Upper Egypt have only recently begun to implement sewerage systems, and
water supply provision lags behind in the villages of this region. In some regions the
increase in water coverage has been made on the expense of the quality and reliability
of the system. There are frequent system breakdowns and many household-connections
to water systems suffer regular and often lengthy service interruptions. Despite of the
high population densities in the villages, there is no proper sewerage system in rural
areas.

In Egypt, more than 80% of the population in urban areas is connected to piped-system
water supply compared to about 90% for the metropolitan areas of Cairo and
Alexandria. Water coverage in urban areas in Upper Egypt reached now between 75 to
85%. A large number of rural areas are dependent on groundwater sources for their
domestic water supply. Since groundwater usually does not need treatment, both the
quality of groundwater and the method used to deliver this water are of real public
health concern, especially in areas with no sewerage system and local disposal practices
may lead to contamination of groundwater. Over-pumping of aquifers may also lead to
contamination of groundwater source, by creating negative pressure within the water-
bearing strata. Infiltration to the aquifer from sewage or saline water sources may then
occur. According to a study conducted in 1995 by Shafy and Fathalla, 30% of the wells
in Minufiya governorate are biologically contaminated. Coliform counts of more than
100/ ml have been reported in the rural Mostorod area of Cairo governorate, and
NOPWASD reported that the wells in Shrarqiya governorate have also high biological
contamination (Chemonics Egypt, Report UNC 6-01(E), March 2005). The WASH
study conducted for USAID (1988) provides additional information concerning the
bacteriological contamination of water from deep wells, shallow wells, and irrigation
canals. Deep wells were the safest source.

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Despite the quality of water at the River Nile intakes in Upper Egypt is generally good,
the drinking water quality standards are not always met because of insufficient control
of the purification process at the water works and due to the leaking networks.
Unaccounted–for water is up to 50%, the majority of which is caused by leaking pipe
networks and house installations. This accounts for almost 3 billion m3 of treated water
wasted annually at a cost equivalent to about LE 1.5 billion a year (Sector program
support – Water and Sanitation, Egypt, by COWI and Chemonics Egypt, June 2000).

CARE conducted a comprehensive survey activity related to the rural water and
sanitation sector in Middle and Upper Egypt. The survey covered a number of donor-
assisted activities (FINNIDA and the Dutch). The report concluded that household
sanitary facilities in villages are exclusively on site. Where houses have latrines, the
majorities have no formal method of sullage disposal. Many sanitary facilities function
poorly due to poor design and construction or because of problems in the absorption of
sullage into the soil. Poor handling and unsanitary disposal of wastewater have been
cited as serious health related problems connected with on-site sanitation.

Although there has been considerable growth in the provision of sanitation, it is likely
that 40% of the population in rural Egypt will remain dependent on on-site sanitation by
the year 2020 (METAP report, 1997). This document provides also basic information
on different water supply and sanitation systems in rural Egypt with assessment of the
various components of each system.

Most recent reports on the assessment of water and sanitation in Egypt prepared for the
UNICEF (2005) it was concluded that 21.7% of the total number of buildings in Egypt
are connected to wastewater networks, and 63% dispose of wastewater through other
alternatives, while the remaining 15% are deprived of sanitation services.

2.5.2 Coverage of Sanitation Services

Table 2.2 presents the percentage of buildings covered by sanitation services in

Egyptian Governorates.

Table 2.2 Percentage of buildings covered by sanitation services in Egyptian

Governorates

Status of Coverage Urban Upper Egypt Lower Egypt Border

Governorates Governorates Governorates Governorates1
Buildings connected to 69% 21.7% 12% 10.2%
wastewater networks
Buildings depending on 16.5% 67.5% 68.6% 66%
other alternatives
Buildings deprived of 14.5% 10.8% 19.4% 23.8%
sanitation services
Total 100% 100% 100% 100%
Source: Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS, 2005)

1
Border governorates mean those governorates that lies on the borders of Egypt, such as North and South
Sinai, Marsa Matrouh, Red Sea, Aswan, New Vallye
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Only 6% of Egyptian villages are provided with sanitation services, and 7% shall be
served after completing the sanitation projects under construction, while the remaining
87% are deprived of sanitation services. The villages deprived of sanitation services
include the villages of Assyout Governorate and Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate; 90% of
Qalubiya, Behera, Beni Suef, Minya, and Sohag Governorates; and 46% of Ismailia
Governorate. The state is giving top priority, at present, to the shortage of sanitation
services in rural Egypt (Chemonics Egypt, Report UNC 6-01(E), March 2005).

2.5.3 High Groundwater Table in Villages

Most of the Egyptian villages suffer from high groundwater table except South Sinai,
North Sinai, and the Red Sea. This high groundwater table in villages is considered one
of the most important problems that should be integrated to sanitation solutions
developed for the villages.

2.5.4 Capacity of Wastewater Treatment Plants

Egypt possesses 94 wastewater treatment plants employing different technologies, 40%

of them employ the conventional activated sludge technology using surface aerators for
air supply.

The total design capacity of all treatment plants in Egypt is ranging between 10 to 12
million m3/d. The actual capacity, however, may range between 7-9 million m3/d. Table
2.3 presents a summary of existing and planned treatment plants including upgrading up
to the year 2017.

Table 2.3: Capacity of wastewater treatment plants in Egypt

Plants Capacity
(Mm3/day)
Existing plants
Present capacity 6.09
Ongoing construction to increase capacity 1.08
Planned capacity increase (till 2017) 1.29
New plants
Ongoing construction 3.35
Planned capacity increase (till 2017) 1.92
Planned new plants 1.67
Total (existing, under construction and planned) 15.40
Source: Darwish survey 2000

By 2017, the total available capacity may reach 15.4 Mm3/day. The capacity increase
will not be sufficient to cope with the future increase in wastewater production from
municipal and industrial sources and therefore the pollution loads that will reach the
water system are expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

The average capacity of treatment plants in each governorate is as follows:

Border governorates 27,000 m3/d

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Lower Egypt Governorates (except Gharbiya) 54,000 m3/d

Upper Egypt Governorates 36.000 m3/d

During the period from 1982 – 1997, 35 new plants entered the service as part of the
government efforts to raise the level of sanitation services in the Governorates. The total
design capacity of these new plants is 1,5 million m3/d, and the total construction costs
reached LE 2,205.8 million. The plants were financed by a local fund through
NOPWASD with the support of some grants from USAID and FINNIDA.

2.5.5 Efforts to Solve Sanitation Problems in Egypt

Different agencies including governmental, non-governmental, foreign donors, and self-

efforts contributed to solve the problem of rural sanitation in Egypt. Through these
efforts, different sanitation projects are to be implemented in 1437 village. During the
last 10 years 470 of these projects are completed. Governmental contribution is directed
to 808 projects (56%), non-governmental assistance is directed to 68 projects (5%),
foreign donors finance 70 projects (5%), and self-efforts contributed to 470 projects
(34%). Most of the projects include the construction of gravity sewers discharging into
watercourses. The technology used in these projects is classified as follows:
• Provision or rehabilitation of sanitary latrines (118 project – 8%)
• Construction of collecting trenches (79 project – 5%)
• Gravity sewers discharging into watercourses (921 project – 64%)
• Construction of wastewater networks and connection to a treatment plant of the
nearest city (96 project – 7%)
• Integrated wastewater system projects (171 project – 12%)

The technologies applied for the treatment of wastewater in rural Egypt vary between
simple on-site sanitation, complete treatment plants, or other traditional solutions such
as sanitary latrines, trenches and percolating pits. Complete wastewater treatment
technologies include conventional activated sludge, trickling filter, aerated lagoons,
stabilization ponds, and upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor.

2.5.6 Size of governmental investment

Table 2.4 presents the country’s investment in 20 years (from 1982 to 2002) in 19
governorates and Luxor city, for water and sanitation. The total investment according to
the Table is LE 20,321 billion. Despite of the large size of investment, the problem of
the sector is still persisting and the performance is unsatisfactory. Analyzing the data of
the table it is possible to put the following remarks:
• The period of implementing the projects is too long and may go up to 10 years.
• According to MOP, only 40% of the projects planned within 20 years are completed
and 60% construction is still on going. This increases the net cost of the projects.
• There is a clear difference in the size of investment and the per capita share of the
investments among the Governorates, and seems that there is no clear criteria for
investment priority.
• The revenues of the water and wastewater companies do not cover capital
investment and this adds an additional financial burden on the governmental budget.

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• The amount of investments during the first three five-year plans (1982-1997)
represent only 35% of the total cost of the projects, while the amount of investments
during the last five year plan (1997-2002) represent 38% of the cost. This is an
indicator of the increasing interest of the country to improve the sector.

The required investments to complete projects are, for example in Port Said
Governorate 0.02% and in Damietta 2%, in Assyout 8.4%, in Daqahliya 9.9%, and in
Menufiya 10.4% of the project costs, respectively. This shows some sort of miss
planning and in prioritizing the expenditure with respect to available resources.

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Table 2.4 National Investments in Water and Sanitation Sector* from 1982 - 2002

Period from 5-Year Plan Total Period Total Estimated CostRequired Addition Project Capacity Population Investment per
Governorate 1982-1997 1997-2002 1982-2002 1982-2002
for Funds to Complete Million(m3/day) in 103 Capita Share
Water Sanitation Water Sanitation Water Sanitation Projects Projects Water Sanitation (2001) (LE)
Damietta 173.1 373.3 101.7 188.9 274.8 562.2 837.0 988.7 151.7 320.0 230.0 998.0 838.7
Sharqiya 277.0 295.4 370.4 646.8 647.4 942.2 1,589.6 1,883.7 294.1 437.0 388.0 4,721.0 336.7
Daqahliya 557.1 336.4 376.8 829.9 933.9 1,166.3 2,100.2 2,844.7 744.5 870.0 547.0 4,580.0 458.6
Qalubiya(1) 81.1 436.6 107.9 262.3 189.0 698.9 887.9 1,350.9 463.0 452.0 285.0 3,621.0 245.2
Kafr El Sheikh 390.3 112.1 231.2 488.6 621.5 600.7 1,222.2 1,819.2 597.0 743.0 171.0 2,405.0 508.2
Gharbiya 108.6 444.3 108.3 509.4 216.9 953.7 1,170.6 1,823.8 653.2 348.0 442.0 3,688.0 317.4
Menufiya 60.1 400.5 138.9 604.2 199.0 1,004.7 1,203.7 1,987.9 784.1 263.0 296.0 2,996.0 401.8
Beheira 594.9 533.8 317.4 509.4 912.3 1,043.2 1,955.5 2,208.0 252.5 500.0 270.0 4,348.0 449.7
Port Said 240.0 597.9 100.0 235.3 340.0 833.2 1,173.2 1,175.4 2.2 290.0 170.0 507.0 2,314.0
Ismailia 197.1 610.4 129.6 430.5 326.7 1,040.9 1,367.6 1,574.3 206.7 289.0 132.0 790.0 1,731.1
Suez 42.5 540.5 39.1 128.0 81.6 668.5 750.1 903.7 153.6 121.0 200.0 452.0 1,659.5
Giza(2) 46.7 66.0 112.6 169.5 159.3 235.5 394.8 705.6 310.8 166.0 92.0 3,000.0 131.6
Fayoum 28.6 121.8 76.8 238.8 105.4 360.6 466.0 860.9 394.9 213.0 214.0 2,211.1 210.8
Beni Suef 227.7 78.1 201.9 197.4 429.6 275.5 705.1 1,013.5 308.4 200.0 140.0 2,065.0 341.5
El Minya 79.5 128.6 254.1 304.5 333.6 433.1 766.7 1,256.6 489.9 278.0 222.0 3,719.0 206.2
Assyout 67.5 57.6 99.3 331.2 166.8 388.8 555.6 1,186.0 630.4 236.0 480.0 3,150.0 176.4
Sohag 127.7 310.0 188.0 425.3 315.7 735.3 1,051.0 1,400.0 349.0 272.0 325.0 3,500.0 300.3
Qena 358.0 83.3 230.9 210.5 588.9 293.8 882.7 1,241.9 359.2 261.0 223.0 2,712.0 325.5
Asswan 298.8 145.0 220.8 318.4 519.6 463.4 983.0 1,227.4 244.4 262.0 120.0 1,050.0 936.2
Luxor City 36.7 64.2 69.8 87.6 106.5 151.8 258.3 388.0 129.7 68.0 48.0 394.0 655.6
Total 3,993.0 5,735.8 3,475.5 7,116.5 7,468.5 12,852.3 20,320.8 27,840.2 7,519.3 6,589.0 4,995.0 50,907.1
Source: Adapted from report on cities and villages with access to wastewater services, Ministry of Local Development, Caior, Egypt, May 2003
* Except for Cairo, Alexandria, Sinai, New Valley, Matrouh, and Red Sea Governorates
(1)
Does not include Shoubra El-Khima
(2)
Does not include Giza City

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3. Institutional Analysis of Water and Wastewater
Sector in Egypt/Greater Cairo
 Institutional Analysis of Water and Wastewater Sector in Egypt/Greater Cairo 3-1

3. INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS OF WATER AND

WASTEWATER SECTOR IN EGYPT/GREATER CAIRO

3.1 Introduction
This chapter presents information on the technical, institutional and economic
analysis of the water and wastewater sector in Egypt/Greater Cairo. It includes a
general description of the institutional set up in Egypt in terms of the wastewater
sector and specifically the organizational structure and tariff policy in Greater Cairo.

3.2 Technical and Institutional Information

3.2.1 National Policy on Water Supply and Sanitation

Since 1991, the GOE has undertaken a program of fundamental national economic
reforms. However, reforms in the water and wastewater sector have not been carried
out as vigorously as in other infrastructure sectors. The slower pace is largely due to
the political risks associated with:
• Increasing household tariff levels and enforcing payment; and
• Implementing civil service reforms and commercializing human resource
management policy and staffing; and
• Decentralization of an overly centralized and fragmented institutional structure

The water supply and sanitation sector is presently undergoing a restructuring. This
involves the provision of water and sanitation services as a commercial/economic
activity rather than a social service at present.

The main objectives of the sector reform framework include:

• Enable and encourage utilities to achieve new service and performance
standards;
• Enable and encourage utilities to achieve operating cost recovery and cost
effective operations;
• Encourage the private sector to finance, manage, and operate projects in the
sector; and
• Create conditions fostering self-financing of governorate water and
wastewater projects in the future.

The sector reform takes place at national, governorate, district, and community levels.
At the national level the following major changes to the institutional framework are
proposed (this changes reflects the donors recommendations and both the donors and
GOE are involved in an extended dialogue regarding these changes):

• Establishment of an inter-Ministerial Policy Committee to set target

service levels and criteria for sector investment prioritization;
• Establishment of an independent Regulatory Agency to evaluate and
regulate tariffs, ensure capital investment does not exceed affordable

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demand, and monitor compliance of utilities with performance

standards to be established;
• Further improvement of the institutional management system of
local utilities and accelerating the achievement of autonomy and
separation of management and ownership activities, adoption of
commercial human resources and financial management practices,
and increase transparent management accountability and
performance; and
• Organizational re-focusing of NOPWASD in support of the
decentralization of responsibility for sector investment planning and
implementation to local utilities.

The immediate requirement at the governorate level is for existing utility operations to
be transferred to new public economic authorities (PEAs).

The main feature of the above institutions policy is the retention of revenues for their
own activities rather than being budget-driven as at present. Furthermore, many of the
rigid governmental regulations on employment, organization and financial
management will be removed or eased. The above policies are seen to serve the
proposed strategies in the water supply and sanitation sector.

In summary, there are several potential scenarios for institutional reform in Egypt that
deserve attention. However, it is apparent that progress achieved in service coverage,
particularly in water supply domain, has not been accompanied by institutional
reform, capacity building, nor a program of cost recovery to assure sustainable
operations of the water and wastewater sector. The main problems may be
summarized according to the publication (Institutional Development Services for
Secondary Cities Project in Egypt – South Sinai Governorate – by Chemonics
International, CDM, Center of Financial Engineering in Development, Chemonics
Egypt, and Arab Software Engineering, 1996) as follows:

• Overly centralized and fragmented institutional structures, insufficient

strategic planning, and an inadequate policy framework;
• Inadequate cost recovery policy as characterized by low tariffs that do not
cover operating costs and lead to heavy government expenditures; and
• In adequate management, operations, and maintenance of existing facilities.

In order to achieve sustainability within the sector the following reforms should be
implemented:

• National institutions must address sector planning, policy formulation, and

regulation to provide support and guidance to local institutions in coordination
with other sectors of the economy;
• Responsibility for management, operations, and maintenance must be
decentralized to local institutions;
• The management of the local institutions must adopt a financially autonomous
and commercial character; and
• Tariffs must be raised to allow full cost recovery or at least as a first step the
cost of operation and maintenance.

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3.2.2 Public Institutions (The Applicable Regulatory Framework)

The following ministries and agencies are directly involved in management and
oversight of activities in the water / wastewater sector.

The Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities (MOHUUC)

MOHUUC is the lead ministry with primary responsibility for the water and
wastewater sector. It has the responsibility to formulating and implementing sector
policies. At the local level, MOHUUC provides services to the governorates, under
the supervision of the Governor. It has a wide range of responsibilities, including
urban planning, implementation of housing projects, and development and monitoring
of utilities. The principle function of MOHUUC at the local level is to provide
resources and expertise to implement and operate water supply and sanitation
facilities.

National Organization for Potable Water and Sanitary Drainage (NOPWASD)

NOPWASD is the technical implementing agency under the jurisdiction of

MOHUUC. It was created under presidential decree No. 197 in 1981. NOPWASD is
responsible for sector planning and co-ordination at the national level. NOPWASD
identifies, prepares, evaluates, design and executes investment projects on behalf of
governorate agencies, and is responsible for providing technical guidance, consulting
and training support to the governorates. NOPWASD has primary responsibility for
implementation of the majority of water supply and sanitation investment projects,
and is represented at the governorate level primarily through its implementing role. Its
main responsibilities include:

• Preparing designs for large projects and supervising construction as required;

• Preparing contracts for large projects, in tendering (locally and internationally)
and evaluating bids.
• Developing national general plans for water supply and sanitary drainage
works, including preparation of execution schedules;
• Coordinating the plans of water supply with those of sanitary drainage;
• Performing necessary studies and applied research and participating in the
setting out of standards for potable water and wastewater effluent disposal;
• Establishing and enforcing standards, specifications, and technical conditions
for water supply, sewerage, and sewage systems;
• Providing technical advise on water supply, sewerage, and sewage systems;
• Establishing training centers to improve the quality of design, construction,
and operation and maintenance of water supply, sewerage, and sewage
systems;

NOPWASD is involved with planning, design, tendering, and construction

supervision for facilities in all regions and cities except Cairo and Alexandria;
recently CAPWO (Cairo and Alexandria Potable Water and Wastewater Projects
Organization) has been granted the responsibility for planning, design, tendering and
supervising the construction of facilities in Cairo and Alexandria. Before such
amendment, Cairo Water and Wastewater Companies and Alexandria Water and
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Wastewater Companies were responsible for planning and supervising the

construction of facilities in Cairo and Alexandria. After construction, NOPWASD is
responsible for the newly constructed facilities for the first two years or more
(according to each case), while the O&M responsibility passes to the local
administration (or to the Water and Wastewater Companies in governorates that have
such companies). Often the localities then sign an agreement with NOPWASD to
continue management control, and the facilities are then run via concession contracts
with private operators.

The EEAA is the highest authority in Egypt responsible for promoting and protecting
the environment. It was established in 1982, although its current scope of
responsibilities was not fully described until the enactment of law 4/1994. The head of
the agency reports to the Minister for Environmental affairs.

The EEAA is responsible for environmental planning, policy setting, legislations,

environmental monitoring, and overseeing enforcement of environmental legislations.
In particular, EEAA is responsible for reviewing / accepting environmental impact
assessments (EIA).

The EEAA through the Minister’s office prepares co-operation protocols with other
ministries, establishing frameworks for information flow, personnel exchange and
policy co-ordination. Protocols are in place with the Ministries of Labor, Health and
Population, Justice, Industry, Petroleum, and Tourism.

Ministry of Finance (MF) including the National Investment Bank

The MF prepares government budgets and financial statements and is responsible for
final distribution of funds for government’s salaries (Bab 1); operation and
maintenance (Bab 2); and investments (Bab 3). MF functions include the following:

• Provide financial guidelines;

• Receive all government revenues for transfer to the central government’s
treasury account; and
• Provide financial support under Bab 1 and Bab 2 and monitor their use.

The MF continues to subsidize water and wastewater activities by covering the gap
between O&M cost and revenues and by providing investment loans (low interest) for
new projects. These loans in practice, however, are not repaid. Disbursements for
domestic funds for investments are allocated under the 5 –year plans.

Ministry of Planning (MP)

The MP is responsible for planning and approving the allocation of public sector
investments within the context of the 5-year planning process.

Ministry of Health and Population (MHP)

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The MHP is responsible for setting water quality standards, monitoring water quality
and performing health and hygiene programs. The MHP has enforcement power and
can order the closure of facilities and cessation of production for both public and
private entities that violate the standards. The MHP is involved in the approval
process for projects involving effluent reuse, from the standpoint of workers exposure
(occupational health), and public health.

Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI)

The MWRI develops and maintains a national network of irrigation channels. It is

also responsible for issuing permits for water abstraction / discharge for potable
water, and water for industrial or irrigation purposes.

Ministry of Local Development (MLD)

The MLD is involved in project development situations where land needs to be

expropriated for project constructions on private property land.

Organization for the Development of the Egyptian Villages (ORDEV)

Under the authority of the MLD, ORDEV is responsible for ensuring the provision of
basic services, including water supply and sanitation, as well as co-ordination,
planning and implementation of projects in rural areas.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Ministry of International Co- operation

(MIC)

Under the jurisdiction of the MOFA, the MIC is responsible for the co-ordination of
project funding from international donor agencies.

Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MALR)

The MALR together with the Ministry of Environmental Affairs (MEA) are leading
the effort to establish a new code for the reuse of treated effluent. The MALR is also
responsible for the allocation of the land required for wastewater treatment plants,
particularly in rural governorates.

Overlapping Responsibilities

NOPWASD is responsible for the implementation of major water and wastewater

projects in all governorates with the exception of Cairo, Alexandria, and cities under
the new communities and development areas such as North Gulf of Suez and East
Port Said.

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The MLD through ORDEV is implementing rural water and sanitation projects under
Shorouk program (financed from the Social Fund) with overlaps with NOPWASD
work for mother villages (the village where the local rural unit is located- see next
section).

Responsibility of Governorates, Cities, and Regional Authority

Sector operations and maintenance have been decentralized to the governorates and
district/municipal levels, and are implemented under various legal arrangements and
institutional settings. The responsibilities of the various local institutions are given
below:

1. Governorate: The legal status of the governorate is simply that of a sub-

division of the state. And its jurisdiction is defined by geographical
boundaries. The governorate is responsible for providing water and
wastewater services to citizens through its local departments/units in the
marakez, cities, and villages and for coordinating the inputs of all other
involved agencies, authorities and line ministries.

The main sector functions of the governorates are:

• Submitting budget applications to the Ministry of Finance;

• Coordination of plans for development, extension and improvements
of water and wastewater facilities with the respective governmental
agencies, authorities and line ministries;
• Coordination of preparation of governorate sector budgets
incorporating the request of cities, village councils, and line ministries;
• Monitoring and supervision of implementation of projects; and
• Providing assistance (financial and technical) to village councils and
line ministries to ensure effective and efficient operation &
maintenance of water and wastewater facilities.

2. Marakez: Marakez staff manages water and wastewater services in the urban
areas whereas in rural areas these are managed by a combination of village
council staff and line ministries employees.

3. City Council: The city or town is a regional subdivision of the marakez. The
city’s mayor is appointed by the prime minister, and is responsible for all city
services, including utilities, and infrastructure. The city council takes overall
responsibility for management of water supply and wastewater services, but
the human and physical resources required may come from a variety of
sources. The primary functions of the city council with respect to the sector
are:
• To provide staff for operation and maintenance of facilities, including
meter reading, billing and revenue collection, and to deposit collected
revenues in the account of the MF;
• To prepare budget applications for operation and maintenance,
replacement and extensions of the systems for submittal to the
governorate; and
• To prepare and manage contracts for small development projects.
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4. Village Council: The village council is a representative of a rural subdivision

of the marakez, similar to the city council, but generally representing more
than one village (local rural unit) within a geographical area. Responsibilities
for water and wastewater services in the village councils are divided between
the rural unit (responsible for the water distribution system and administration
functions), and line directorates for water supply provision. The primary
functions of the village council in the operation and maintenance of the water
and wastewater systems are:
• To provide staff for the operation and maintenance of water networks
and purchase materials and services required doing the job. In some
cases this extends to the provision of staff to assist NOPWASD in the
operation of water purification (production) facilities;
• To provide administrative services for septage collection from septic
tanks and percolation pits for disposal; and
• To prepare needs assessment for operation and maintenance,
replacement and extension of systems for submission to the marakez.

5. Public Economic Authority (PEA)

3.2.3 NOPWASD Organization and Staffing

According to the information obtained from NOPWASD, the total number of

employees in this organization based on actual numbers in December 2000 is 1672
employees. This number includes 753 engineers with different specializations (civil,
mechanical, and electric) excluding the Chairman and the Head of the Projects Sector,
6 other Central Department Managers, and 11 General Department Managers. This
makes a total of 772 engineers. The number of lawyers is 17 including 1 legal advisor.
The number of administration development staff is 86 including 6 department
managers. The administration development staff has a B. Sc. degree either from
Faculty of Commerce or Faculty of Arts. The total number of accountants is 86
excluding 1 Central Department Manager for financial affairs and 7 General
Department Managers. This makes a total of 94 accountants. The number of chemists
and microbiologists is 15. The chemists are graduates of the Faculty of Science.
According to the above information, the total number of the university graduate staff
is 984 employees. The number of technicians is 126 and the number of secretaries and
simple desk-workers is 235. This makes a total of 361 employees having middle
qualification degree (Craft or Commerce Diploma). In addition to the above numbers
there are 21 workers who can read and write and the rest is supporting staff consisting
of 306 illiterate without any qualifications including 146 ordinary labor and 160
clerks.

NOPWASD employees are located at different physical places. The majority of the
employees are located in the 4 floors of the building in Orabi Street (13-16 floor). The
Central Department of Training is located at Mogameh El Tahrir. Some of
NOPWASD’s manpower is distributed at construction sites in the various
governorates to supervise construction of ongoing projects.

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3.2.4 Laws and Regulations

The laws and regulations relevant to water supply and sanitation sector are described
hereafter. These laws include several presidential decrees (PDs) establishing separate
water and wastewater utilities, and sector agencies and authorities. The PDs vary in
the degree of autonomy given to the utility, with the newer decrees providing greater
degree of autonomy in managing operations.
The laws and decrees corresponding to the various water and wastewater utilities are
presented in table 3.1.

Table 3.1 Laws and Decrees Concerning Water and Wastewater Utilities in
Egypt

Utility Law or Decree / year

Holding Company for Water and Wastewater Presidential Decree 135 for 2004
(HCWW)
Cairo Water (GOGCWS) 1138 / 1968
Cairo Wastewater (CGOSD/Cairo) 30 / 1980
Alexandria Water (AWGA) 1639 / 1968, 2420 / 1973
Alexandria Wastewater (AGOSD) 1637 / 1968 / 363 / 1979, 96 / 1994
Behira 198 / 1981
Kafr El Sheikh (KES) 201 / 1983
Damietta 753 / 1984
Aswan, Gharbiya, Daqahliya, Sharqia,
Fayoum, Beni Suef, Minia 281 / 1995

Related environmental laws include law 48 of 1982 setting the standards for effluent
discharges in water bodies and recipients, and subsequent executive regulations
(Decree 8 of 1983), and its amendments (Decree 9 of 1989) substituted recently by
Decree No.44 of the year 2000 related to the protection of the Nile River.
Additionally, law 4 of 1994 governs the above utilities concerning the environment.
Concerning drinking water quality the guidelines for drinking water quality of the
World Health Organization (WHO, 1984) are recognized and respected with minor
differences, for more details see section on water quality.

3.2.5 Current Sector Reforms

Features of the Reform

The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) document

reported the results of a comprehensive assessment made in 1992 of the water and
wastewater sector in Egypt. The report included detailed analyses of the problems,
constraints, and limitations faced by the sector. The report brought up
recommendations to reform the water and wastewater sector in Egypt. Since the
IBRD study was completed in1992, some changes have occurred. Part of the changes
occurred in the general economic climate, while others were specific to water and
wastewater sector. Major developments in Egypt included:

• Institutional Support Contract (ISC) in Cairo, Alexandria, and Secondary

Cities – financed by USAID, 1992;
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 Institutional Analysis of Water and Wastewater Sector in Egypt/Greater Cairo 3-9

• Presidential decree for Cairo, Alexandria, and Secondary Cities water and
wastewater organizations to become autonomous, 1994;
• Privatization of public sector companies initiated, 1995;
• Privatization of telecommunication and electricity distribution networks, 1997;
• Legal Institutional and Regulatory Reform of the Egyptian Water and
Wastewater Sector Project (LIRR) study, 1997/1998; and
• Proposed framework for water and wastewater sector reform in Egypt by the
LIRR project, 1998.

The MOHUUC commenced in 1998 a national reorganization of the water and

wastewater sector based on a study prepared by NOPWASD. A presidential decree
was passed on the reorganization of the sector and the principal objectives of the
reform can be outlined as follows:

• Enable and encourage utilities to achieve new service and performance

standards, with the purpose of ensuring service delivery to all citizens;
• Enable and encourage utilities to achieve operating cost recovery and cost
effective operations;
• Encourage the private sector to finance, manage, and operate projects in the
sector; and
• Create conditions fostering self-financing of governorate water and
wastewater projects in the future.

The key aspects of the proposed reform are:

• Creation of an Inter-Ministerial Policy Coordination Committee (IMPCC),

which will set criteria investment prioritization and set target level of service;
• Creation of Water / Wastewater Sector Regulatory Agency, which will be in
charge of regulating tariff adjustment and investment levels as well as
ensuring provision of agreed service standards to the customers;
• Reorganization of the relevant nation level organizations (NOPWASD and
Department of Utilities of the MOHUUC);
• Reorganization of the sector’s local utilities as Public Economic Authorities
(PEA);
• Creation of an enabling environment for private sector participation (PSP),
which require revision of concession law, and developing a central department
for private sector participation within the MOHUUC;
• Upgrading the General Department for Utilities of the MOHUUC to the level
of a central department.

The framework for restructuring the sector has been outlined in the proposal for
reorganization of the water and wastewater sector by the MOHUUC in January 2000
as presented in this chapter (3.2).

Present Status on Sector reform Process

The reform process is temporarily delayed, but there is an expectation that at least a
new regulatory agency and a new law on grant of concessions will be approved. The
delay has been attributed to foreign currency issues after floating the Egyptian pound.

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The President apparently has stated that all BOT and BOOT projects should provide a
positive net inflow of foreign currency. Accordingly a Prime Minister Decree No.
695/2001 was issued establishing a Ministerial Committee and a Working Group to
regulate national and local BOT and BOOT projects.

The Minister of the MOHUUC has issued Decree No. 41 of 2001 establishing a
Central Department for Private Sector Projects in the Ministry’s Headquarters.

The latest draft of a memorandum presented to His Excellency the Prime Minster
from the office of the Minister of MOHUUC regarding the water and wastewater
sector reform is given in Annex F. The development in this respect was a letter from
the Cabinet of Ministers to the Minister of Local Development informing him that the
Cabinet in its meeting dated 7/5/2003 decided to agree on the implementation of the
proposed regulatory phases of the water and wastewater sector reform providing that
the Minister of MOHUUC shall be responsible for studying the details related to the
legal procedures of the reform process, coordinating with the Governors, defining the
prospective role of every supervisory body to be established later, and reviewing the
results with the Utilities Ministerial Committee.

3.3 Establishment of the Holding Company for Water and

Wastewater
3.3.1 Organizational Structure

On April 27, 2004, the Presidential Decree 135/2004 formed the Holding Company
for Water and Wastewater (HCWW) under Law 203 for 1991; this Holding Company
belongs to the Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities (MHUUC).
The Decree further mandated the transfer of the following utilities into Law 203
subsidiaries of the Holding Company:

• The General Authority for Greater Cairo Water Service (GOGCWS)

• The Cairo General Authority for Sanitary Drainage (CGOSD)
• The Alexandria Water General Authority
• The Alexandria General Authority for Sanitary Drainage
• The Aswan Water Authority
• The Fayoum Water and Wastewater Authority
• The Minya Water and Wastewater Authority
• The Beni Suef Water and Wastewater Authority
• The Daqahleya Water and Wastewater Authority
• The Beheira Water Company
• The Damietta Water Company
• The Kafr EL Sheikh Water Company
• The Sharqeya Water Authority
• The Gharbeya Water Authority.

This Decree transferred all of the assets of the 14 utilities to the Holding Company.

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 Institutional Analysis of Water and Wastewater Sector in Egypt/Greater Cairo 3-11

The Holding Company occupied temporary offices on Talat Harb street in downtown
Cairo and has contracted for the renovation of a site at the Rod El Farag water
treatment plant which will serve as permanent headquarters.

As indicated above, both the Holding Company and the subsidiaries were
incorporated under Egyptian Law 203. The incorporation process has involved the
following:

• Formation of a fixed assets committee by the MHUUC. This committee was

charged with valuing the fixed assets at each of the 14 subsidiaries prior to the
transfer of assets to the new Law 203 companies. This committee started
work in June of 2004 and submitted a final report in October of the same year.
• Formation of the General Assembly for each company by the Minister of
Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities.
• Appointment of the Board of Directors for each company by the General
Assembly. This included the appointment of a Chairman for each company.
• Approval of an organizational structure for each company
• Appointment of staff to positions in the organizational structure.
• Development and approval of articles of incorporation for all companies. The
project Legal Specialist wrote a draft of the articles of incorporation, which
are required for registration and operation. This document pulls relevant
directives out of Egyptian Law 203, under which the Holding Company was
incorporated and provides guidance to management. Approval of the articles
of incorporation involves drafting the articles of incorporation, securing
approval from the management and the General Assembly of each company,
and finally securing a Ministerial Decrees approving the articles.
• Registration with the tax department and securing a tax number.
• Submission of documents showing the location and contact numbers for the
headquarters of each company to the Company’s Registration Department.
• Publishing the articles of association and Ministerial Decree approving the
articles in the Egyptian Gazette.

The organizational structure of the HCWW is illustrated in Figure 3.1.

3.3.2 Status of Company Operations

Once the Holding Company and subsidiary companies were incorporated began work
on laihas (Bylaws). The first set of subsidiary company laihas drafted covered
Board of Directors, personnel, procurement, finance, authorities and stores. The
strategy was to develop one set of laihas appropriate for all companies.

The steps followed in the development of these laihas were:

• A Legal Specialist drafted the laihas

• The draft laihas were sent to all companies for review
• Comments were submitted on the approved laihas and the laihas were revised
as necessary

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• The revised laihas were sent to the companies by the Holding Company for
approval by each Board of Directors, and the personnel laiha was sent to the
Labor Union for approval.

By July of 2005 six laihas had been approved by the Board of Directors for each
subsidiary company.

The next developmental step involved review of subsidiary company organizational

structures. First, the current organizational structure from each company was collected
and analyzed. Next, three standard designs were then developed: a water company
organizational structure, a wastewater company organizational structure and a
combined water/wastewater organizational structure. In each case, careful
consideration was given to the existing organizational structure, but the effort focused
on simplifying, rationalizing and standardizing the way the companies were
organized.

The organizing principles of the effort were as follows:

• Minimize the span of control of each manager, especially the Chairman

• Confirm that responsibility for commercial activities of the new companies is
clearly identified in the organizational structure
• Create several major management positions below the Chairman in order to
provide a proving ground for potential candidates for the Chairman position.

Once these three templates were completed, a team visited each of the subsidiary
companies to present and discuss the templates. Following these visits, formal
feedback was received from each company. That feedback was reviewed by Holding
Company management and revisions in the templates were made as necessary.

Holding Company management approved the draft templates and sent the drafts to the
subsidiaries for Boards of Director approval. All subsidiary company Boards of
Director approvals were completed in July of 2005.

Once the organizational structures were officially approved by the respective Boards
of Directors, a set of model job descriptions was developed and issued to all
companies for comment and adoption. Based upon the organizational structure work
has also started on the development of staffing norms for each company.

The Holding Company is currently focusing on the following areas of subsidiary

company activity:

• Revenue generation strategies

• Billing and collection systems
• Metering, both domestic and production
• Development of MIS and GIS
• Financial planning
• Upgrade of treatment plant operations

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3.4 Economic and Financial Information

The economic and financial reforms in the water and wastewater sector included a
fresh look at cost recovery and current tariff in Egypt.

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 Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Assistants to the Chairman of the Board of
General Directorate for Technical Office
Directors

General Directorate for Security General Directorate for Board of Directors

Affairs

General Directorate for Information Systems General Directorate for Public Relations
and Media

Deputy Chairman for Technical Affairs Deputy Chairman for Administrative, Financial
and Legal Affairs

Manager of Technical Manager of Quality Assurance and Manager of Legal Manager of Administrative
Operations & Affairs Sector Monitoring Sector Affairs Sector and Financial Affairs Sector
Maintenance Sectors

General Directorate for Marketing General Directorate for

General Directorate for General Directorate for Financial Affairs
General Directorate for Project Design Legal Opinion
Rehabilitation General Directorate for Training
General Directorate for
General Directorate for General Directorate for Central General Directorate for Personnel and
Project Execution Laboratories & Quality Control Law Suites and Administrative Affairs
Sequestration
General Directorate for
Collectors and Tunnels General Directorate for General Directorate for Financial General Directorate for
Mechanical and & Administrative Monitoring Purchase and Contracts
Electrical Works and Quality Assurance General Directorate for
Investigations
General Directorate for
General Directorate for General Directorate for General Directorate for Warehouse
Technical Services Industrial Drainage Performance Evaluation &
and Mechanical Fleet Control Follow-up
General Directorate for
General Directorate for Safety Development of Financial
General Directorate for and Occupational Health Resources
House Connections
General Directorate for General Directorate for
Customer Services Health Services

Figure (3.1) Organization Structure of the Holding Company for Water & Wastewater (HCWW)
 Institutional Analysis of Water and Wastewater Sector in Egypt/Greater Cairo 3-15

3.4.1 Cost Recovery and Current Tariffs

Cost recovery for water is a function of supply cost, tariff & billing and collection
efficiency. Supply costs are dependent on both fixed costs and efficiency of operation.
Because water and sanitation services have not been operated in Egypt as cost centers,
they typically have no hand on actual costs for providing customers with water and
sanitation services. The local administration institutional framework in particular is
very control oriented, which provides no incentives for effective and efficient
management of services. There are number of conditions, which have to exist in order
to recover cost, including and not limited to:
• Substantial improvement in personnel performance;
• Effective and regular leak detection program associated with remedial and
correction measures;
• Increasing the number of household connections;
• Reduction in public taps or stand pipes;
• Increasing production capacity and monitoring water quality;
• Better metering system of water; and
• Priority attention given to customer database, billing, and collection
efficiency.

Table 3.2 presents actual cost of water in five Egyptian governorates (UNICEF, 1995
for MLD). A study prepared by NOPWASD in 1996 concluded that the cost of
wastewater collection and treatment is LE 0.255/m3. A separate study by the Cairo
Greater Organization for Sanitary Drainage calculated a cost of LE 0.635/m3,
including debts and benefits.

Table 3.2 Actual Cost of Water in Some Egyptian Governorates

Governorate Kafr El Beheira Alexandria Damietta Cairo

Sheikh
Actual cost,
0.49 0.46 0.37 0.33 0.395
LE/m3
Total cost,
LE/m3
0.61 0.6 0.47 0.43 0.47
Including debt

Source: UNICEF 1995 for Ministry of Local Development

Price of 1 m3 of water for residential customers is LE 0.1 in Cairo and LE 0.13 in

Alexandria. Large consumers (industries) pay a rate ranging from LE 0.3 to LE 0.8
depending on the total consumption. In contrast, Beheira and Kafr El Sheikh, both of
which have Public Water Companies, collect different tariff from consumers.

Central and local governments set tariffs in Egypt. The role of local government is
often under-appreciated. A national tariff schedule is published periodically under the
direction of the MOHUUC through the High Consultative Committee on Utilities.
This committee is composed of the chairman of the Cairo and Alexandria general
authorities for water and wastewater, the chairman of NOPWASD, the chairman of
Greater Cairo Wastewater Organization, and the senior undersecretary and
undersecretary for public utilities of the MOHUUC. The committee’s
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recommendations are passed to the Cabinet’s High Committee on Policies and

Economic Affairs, composed of the ministries of economy, finance, housing and
public utilities, electricity, and local development. The role of the High Committee on
Policies and Economic Affairs is to assess the social acceptability of the proposal of
the High Consultative Committee on Utilities. Since 1984, the donor community has
exerted pressure to raise tariffs. In recent years, a gradual increase has been proposed
by the High Consultative Committee on Utilities and this tariffs proposal is shown in
the table below. Wastewater tariffs are calculated as a surcharge on the water bill.
Until recently, the surcharge was very small (10 to 20%) only. The High Consultative
Committee on Utilities has now recommended increasing the surcharge up to 50%
(Institutional Development Services for Secondary Cities Project in Egypt – South
Sainai Governorate – Chemonics International and associates, 1996). Proposals of the
High Consultative Committee on Utilities are only recommendations. In practice, the
People’s Assembly must approve them, but more importantly they must be approved
by the elected (popular) council of the governorate, which may reject an increase. For
this reason, tariff levels vary today from governorate to another, sometimes by an
order of 4 to one. The following table presents the ceiling of the National Tariff for
Egypt (Table 3.3).

Table 3.3 National Tariff

Tariff Class 92/93 93/94 94/95

pt/ m3 pt/ m3 pt/ m3
Residential
Up to 30 m3/ Mo 8.5 18 23
Over 30 m3/ Mo 10 25 30
Construction & building
25 32 30
Social and Religious 7.5 27 35
Sport clubs 10 32 40
Small factories 18 38 50
Large industrial factories 25 45 53
Private hospitals, hotels 45 75 85
Governmental institutions &
public sector companies 18 32 40
Public Housing
Flat: one room 75 200 250
Flat: two rooms 90 225 300
Flat: three rooms 120 300 400
Flat: more than 3 rooms 150 400 500

3.4.2 Tariff Amendments

There is currently no solid system that is producing on a regular basis statistically

reliable financial information regarding actual cost or exact quantities of production
and selling water, or for pumping and treating wastewater. There is no regular
maintenance and repair program for flow meters and water quantities, especially for
public tap groups or governmental premises and religious institutions, are mostly
estimated. Therefore, all budgets and plans can only be regarded as “best estimates”
until a new cost center accounting system can be implemented and production
quantities can be more accurately determined.
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In order to amend existing tariff, implementation of new management system for

almost every component of the services will be required to provide coordination of
costs, budget, revenues and operations; and transparent accounting system. This can
be obviously achieved if an autonomous PEA is taking the management role for the
water and wastewater sector in the governorates. Moreover, a regulatory framework
should exist that can assess requests for increased tariff objectively within only a
marginal political influence aiming at protecting the low-income citizens. The request
has to be financially justified under an efficient operation management that takes the
responsibility to minimize the cost of water and improve the water quality control
aspects.

It is worth to mention, however, that several utilities started to use the atmosphere of
the ongoing reforms and initiated tariff studies financed by donors, mainly USAID,
with the objective of rescheduling a justifiable tariff rate based on actual cost data.
The studies are planned for four utilities including Beheira Water Company,
Alexandria Water Company, and Alexandria Wastewater Company. The studies are
aiming to develop a basic tariff-setting methodology, to adapt the basic model to a
range of situations, to assist the GOE to assess the tariff implications of various
assumptions regarding efficiency, affordability, and other regulatory concerns, and to
assess personnel and logistic requirements of the regulatory agency with respect to its
tariff analysis functions.

3.4.3 Current Tariff

According to the Ministry of Local Development, the current tariff for residential
water and sanitary drainage as of January 2003 is shown in Table 3.4 for each
governorate in Egypt. The tariff differs from one governorate to the other but all
governorates charge for the sanitary drainage as a percentage of the water tariff except
for two governorates (New Valley and Matrouh) which do not have access to sanitary
drainage services. A detailed tariff for different water uses in Greater Cairo as of
September 2004 is presented in Table 3.5. Such tariff was originally implemented in
Alexandria Governorate and proved to be effective.

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Table 3.4 Tariff for Residential Water and Sanitary Drainage in Egyptian
Governorates (January 2003)

Residential Use
Monthly Water Consumption Monthly Water Consumption
1 to 30 m3 > 30 m3
Governorate Sanitary Sanitary
Water Tariff** Drainage as Water Tariff Drainage as
P.T./m3 Percentage of P.T./m3 Percentage of
Water Tariff Water Tariff
Cairo 12 20% 16 20%
Alexandria 23 35% 30 35%
Port Said 16 50% 21 50%
Damietta 23 35% 27 35%
Daqahliya 23 35% 30 35%
Sharqiya 23 35% 30 35%
Qalubiya 18 35% 25 35%
Kafr El Sheikh 23 35% 23 35%
Gharbiya 23 35% 30 35%
Menufiya 23 35% 50 60%
Beheira 23** 35% 35** 35%
Ismailia 16 150 P.T./M 50 150 P.T./M
Giza 12 20% 16 20%
Beni Suef 23 35% 30 35%
Fayoum 23 35% 30 60%
Minya 23 35% 23 35%
Sohag 23 35% 30 35%
Qena 23 35% 30 35%
Aswan 23 35% 30 60%
Luxor 23 35% 30 35%
Red Sea 55 None 55 None
New Valley 23 35% 30 35%
Matrouh 48 None 48 None
North Sinai 23 50% 30 50%
South Sinai 18 50% 18 50%
** Up to 25 m3 ** > 25 m3

Source: Ministry of Local Development, January 2003.

* 1$ (U.S.) = 5.72 L.E.

1 L.E. = 100 P.T.

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Table 3.5 Detailed Tariff for Different Water Uses and Sanitary Drainage in
Greater Cairo (September 2004)

Sanitary
Water Tariff* Drainage as %
No. Tariff Class
P.T. of Water
Tariff
Residential:
1 to 10 m3/month 23
1
11 to 30 m3/month 25 35%
> 31 m3/month 35
Buildings 80 70%
Flat Monthly Rate for Houses owned by
the Governorate (Public Houses)
1-bedroom apartment 300
2
2-bedroom apartment 360
35%
3-bedroom apartment 480
> 3-bedrom apartment 600
3 Syndicates and Political Party Offices 48 70%
4 Social & Religious 42 35%
5 Embassies 75 70%
6 Small Factories, Shops, Cafes,
70 70%
Restaurants
7 Big Factories, Gas Stations, Private
80 70%
Schools
8 Private Hospitals, Hotels 125 70%
9 Raw Water 19 No Drainage
10 NGO’s 42 35%
11 Small Sport Clubs 48 35%
12 Public Hospitals 70 70%
13 Large Sport Clubs 100 70%
14 Bakeries and Garages 70 70%
15 Raw Water for Free Zones 19 No Drainage
16 Clarified Water 22 No Drainage
17 Governmental Institutions – Public 65 70%
Industries – Local Authority Units

* 1$ (U.S.) = 5.72 L.E.

1 L.E. = 100 P.T.

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4. Present Situation for Wastewater
System in Greater Cairo
Present Situation for Wastewater System in Greater Cairo 4-1

4. PRESENT SITUATION FOR WASTEWATER

SYSETM IN GREATER CAIRO

4.1 Introduction
Egypt had seriously suffered from negligence of the infrastructure projects during the
period, extending to late 1970’s, in which all of the efforts and resources of the
country were dedicated for defending and securing the Egyptian borders.
Consequently, the wastewater system that served the Greater Cairo during that period
was in an extremely bad condition, most of the capital streets were flooded by the
excess wastewater flow.

In the year 1981, a new organization was established under the decree number “497”
of His Excellency the Minister of State for Reconstruction Housing and Land
Reclamation, to plan, design and construct a new wastewater project that save and
serve Greater Cairo. It was named the “Organization for Execution of the Greater
Cairo Wastewater Project”, know as CWO (Currently known as “the Organization of
the Greater Cairo and Alexandria Water and Wastewater Projects” (CAPWO)). Ever
since, CWO has played a great role in improving the environmental conditions and
regaining the bright full image of the country’s capital city.

The Greater Cairo Wastewater Project is one of the largest wastewater projects in the
world; it serves a population of 20 million occupying an area of about 1100 square
kilometer. It includes a large conveyance system, major pumping stations and huge
treatment plants, that raised the capacity of Cairo wastewater system from 1.4 million
m3/day to 5.24 million m3/day and has significant impact on the wastewater services
in Cairo. This mega project was divided into three major subprojects according to the
geographic location of districts served in Greater Cairo along the banks of the River
Nile as follows (Figure 4.1a & Figure 4.1b):
• East Bank Project
• West Bank Project
• Helwan Project (South of Cairo)

The area served by the Greater Cairo Wastewater Project lies in three main
governorates: Cairo, Giza and Qalubiya. The project efforts also include the
rehabilitation of the old pumping stations, treatment plants, and the drainage
improvement of the old sewers. The development of the wastewater system in
Greater Cairo is illustrated in Figure 4.2, featuring important data about the project as
follows:

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Present Situation for Wastewater System in Greater Cairo 4-4

• Area served by the project = 1100 square km

• Target served population = 20 million Capita
• Project current capacity = 5.24 million m3/day
• Project capacity at year 2010 = 8.00 million m3/day
• Current wastewater treatment capacity = 3.28 million m3/day
• Wastewater treatment capacity at year 2010 = 6.28 million m3/day

8
6.84
7
Capacity (million m3/d)

6 5.4

5 4.3

4
3
1.85
2 1.4
1
1 0.35
0.05
0
2005 1998 1996 1992 1978 1970 1935 1914

Figure 4.2 Development of the Wastewater System’s Capacity in Greater Cairo

(Years 1914 – 2005)

This chapter presents data and information on the present situation of the wastewater
system in Greater Cairo.

4.2 East Bank Project

This project serves the enclosed area between Gabal El Asfar to the north, Maadi to
the south, Mokattam uphill to the east, and River Nile to the west (Figure 4.3). The
total population of the area is 10 million.

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 East Bank schematic flow diagram
Year 2005
To Elmanzala
Lake
Bahr ElBakr
El Gabel El Asfer Drain
2690

Drain
2150 2000 500 600
To farm
2210 100

1500
100
150 Old Gabal Plant

500
100
Belbeis

El Gabel El-
Shebein El-Kanater

Emergency chanel
1500 Asfer WWTP
(1500)
El Khosos
Drain

Drain
Zero
By pass flow channel
from El- berka
1500 El-Berka
480

El-Kalag WWTP
Triple pipes

60 PS (500)
project

El- 160
Berka

290
50 El-Nahda city
El-Khosos
PS
PS
Shobra El- 150
Khema
1560 (2)
WWTP 200
(480) El Basha Emergency
60 100 160
Abo Ser 100 El
280

El mataria

Bahtem 55 Gamal
Zero Ain
PS El- Abd El
Shams 245
Ameri zero
PS
a PS
Emergency
chanels

1700
Shobra El-
Khema Culvert
Main
50
Tunnel
Masr El-Gdeda
• Flows by 1000 m3 & Nasr City
l t
Present Situation for Wastewater System in Greater Cairo 4-7

The main components of the project are shown in Figure 4.4, as follows:
• Main tunnel which expands from Maadi to Ameriya pump station of length
17.9 km, with diameters from 4 to 5 m.
• Branch tunnels of length 32 km, and micro tunnels of length 14.7 km, with
diameters from 1.2 to 2.5 m.
• Main collectors from Ameriya to Khossous of length 17.61 km and force
mains of length 3.65 km, with variable diameters.
• Gravity sewer lines of length 320.3 km, with variable diameters.
• Three main pumping stations along the tunnel and main collectors, with the
following capacities:
• Ameriya pumping station of average capacity 2.18 Mm3/d.
• Khossous pumping station of average capacity 1.88 Mm3/d.
• Kalag pumping station of average capacity 1.5 Mm3/d.
• A secondary treatment WWTP at Gabal El-Asfer occupying an area of about 2
Mm2, executed in stages reaching a total capacity of 3 Mm3/d by the year
2030. Its current capacity is 1.5 Mm3/d. This plant is the corner stone of the
project, being the largest WWTP in the Middle East.
Details of Completed Contracts for the Wastewater Project in the East Bank that has
been in Service, as of the year 2000, are as follows (Figure 4.5):

i) Tunnels, Culvert and Gravity Wastewater Sewer

Tables (4.1), (4.2), (4.3), (4.4) present the details of the tunnels, culverts, gravity
wastewater sewers, lift pump stations, Gabal Al-Asfar WWTP, and O&M activities
that have been implemented under the projects.
Table 4.1: List of Tunnels, Culverts, Gravity Sewers Contracts under the Project
Design Q Cost
Contract Length/
Description Section million (in million)
No. km
m3/d FRGN LE
3 Main tunnel from America Circular diameter 38.2
5.6 3.21 56.9
to Souk El-Samak 1.8-5 m STR
4 Main tunnel from Abdine to Circular diameter 4- 36.3
4.9 1.81 57.5
Souk El-Samak 5m STR
5A Tunnel of Boulake Circular 1.2-2.5 m 47.8
7.5 0.67 75.5
STR
6 Main culvert from America Box culvert with
0.490
to urban boundaries two barrels 4x3 m. 3.8 2.17 48.6
STR
for each
7 Main culvert from urban Box culvert with
0.787
boundaries to Khossous three barrels each 3.1 2.59 39.6
STR
P.S. 3x3.5 m.
8 Main culvert from Khosous Box culvert with
0.988
to Gabal El Asfer two barrels each 7.8 1.59 70.6
STR
3x3 m.
12 Main tunnel from Maadi to Circular diameter 40.8
4.1 1.49 62.2
Ain El Seira 1.2-4 m. STR
13 Maadi Rock tunnel Circular diameter 4
m and branch with 8 100.
3.2 1.08
length 1.1 km. And DK 7
diameter 2 m.

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Table 4.1 (Cont’d): List of Tunnels, Culverts, Gravity Sewers Contracts under the
Project
Design Q Cost
Contract Length/
Description Section million (in million)
No. km
m3/d LE
14 Branch tunnel North Circular diameter
8.076 0.142 334.34
Shoubra and Rod El Farag. 0.6-1.8 m.
15 Branch tunnel in city Circular diameter
11 0.14 481
1.8-2.2 m
Gravity Gravity sewer serving the Circular 250-
sewer villages of Kalag, Marg, 1200 mm.
156.44 --- 87.3
Khousous, El Zohour, 23
July & Gabal El Asfar
LE = Egyptian Pound STR = Sterling Pound DK = German Mark
Source: Large steps towards better environment 1981-1998, The Organization for the Execution of the
Greater Cairo Wastewater Project, MHUUC, Cairo 1999.

ii) Lift Pump Stations

Table 4.2: List of Lift Pump Stations Contracts under the Project
Contract Description Water Head No. of Design Q
No. M Pumps Million m3/d
1,2 Ameriya 24 8 Centrifuge 2.180
1,2 Ameriya 7 4 Screw 0.560
9 Khossous 7.5 12 Screw 1.880
Khossous 23” 4 Centrifuge 0.35
Kalag 7.5 10 Screw 1.5
16/1 Gabal El Asfer 9.6 10 1.73
Source: Large steps towards better environment 1981-1998, The Organization for the Execution of the
Greater Cairo Wastewater Project, MHUUC, Cairo 1999.

i) Treatment Plant (Gabal Al-Asfar WWTP)

Table 4.3: Wastewater Treatment Plant Contract under the Project

Contract Design Q No. of
Description
No. Million m3/d Pumps
16/1 • Inlet works 1.00 1000
• Wastewater treatment million
facilities, activated sludge
process
• Sludge treatment,
anaerobic digestion
Source: Large steps towards better environment 1981-1998, The Organization for the Execution of the
Greater Cairo Wastewater Project, MHUUC, Cairo 1999.

ii) Operation and Maintenance

Table 4.4: Operation and Maintenance Contracts under the Project

Contract Description Cost
No.
17 & 17/2 Invert flow to the main tunnel 20.77 million LE
Operating and maintenance for America & 12.031 million LE
18
Khossous P.S. 1.66 million STR
Source: Large steps towards better environment 1981-1998, The Organization for the Execution of the
Greater Cairo Wastewater Project, MHUUC, Cairo 1999.

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Chemonics Egypt February 2006
 inra
ter D
Kana
Gabal El-Asfar Drain

l
een E
Sheb

Proje
To Alexanderia

c t Ar
Gabal El-asfarWWTP
C 16-1, C16-2

ea B
ound
Be
l ba

ary
se
Shoubra El-Kheima D rai
n
C9 Berka WWTP
WWTP Khalag PS
ary
und
a Bo
ct Are C 8 Culvert
e
Proj C9 mailia
To Is
Qalioubya
Kossous PS
Governorat C7 International
Airport
culvert
C 6 Culvert
C 1, C2
C 5A Ameria P.S. Heliopolis
Branch Tunnel
C 3, C 3A
Main Spine Tunnel
C 14
Branch Tunnel Souk El-Samak To Suez

Abbasia

Central
C 15 Naser City
Branch Tunnels
Zamalek

Cairo
a Boundar

C4
Main SpineTunnel
Project Are

Abdeen
Cairo Governrate
Roda

C 12
Main Spine Tunnel
Ein El-Siera
C13
Rock Tunnel

Ring Road

Project Area Boundary

To Helwan East Bank Contracts

Present Situation for Wastewater System in Greater Cairo 4-10

4.3 West Bank Project

The west bank wastewater project (Figure 4.6) serves the area enclosed between the
River Nile to the east, Sheikh Zayed City to the west, Embaba to the north, and the
Pyramids to the south. The current population of the area served is about 6 million.

The main components of the project are as follows (Figure 4.7):

1. Main collectors of length 55.3 km and force main of length 46.07

km, with variable diameters.
2. Gravity sewer lines of total length 764 km.
3. Ten main pumping stations with capacities ranging between 100,000
m3/d to 832,000 m3/d.
4. Two lift stations with capacity of 45,000 m3/d each in addition to a
lift station for sludge generated at Abu Rawash WWTP.
5. Two WWTPs as follows:
i) Secondary (Biological) treatment plant at Zenein with a
capacity of 330,000 m3/d. In addition to an experimental
plant for sludge treatment.
ii) Primary treatment plant at Abu Rawash with a capacity of
400,000 m3/d.

The west bank project facilities are divided into two systems as follows:

The first system transports wastewater to the Abu Rawash WWTP:

• One branch of this system consists of a collection system in the Embaba,

Mohandesin and Dokki areas and was commissioned in October 1992.
The collected wastewater is pumped by a series of screw pumping
stations (Embaba, Boulak, South Muheit, Junction, and Abu Rawash)
and culverts to the Abu Rawash Primary WWTP.
• The second branch consists of a collection system in the area of the
Pyramids and was commissioned in December 1993. This collected
wastewater is pumped by a series of screw pumping stations (Cheops,
Pyramids, Junction, and Abu Rawash) and culverts to the Abu Rawash
WWTP.

The second system transports wastewater to the rehabilitated Zenein Secondary

WWTP, which was re-commissioned in October 1990. Sewage is collected in the
Giza area and flows through a trunk line to a pumping station at the Zenein WWTP.
The Giza relief sewer was completed in June 1993. A small area near the plant is also
served. This wastewater is pumped by several older pump stations not constructed
under this project, as well as another pump station presently under construction by
GOSD.

Details of completed contracts for the wastewater project in the west bank which have
been in service as of the year 2000 are shown in tables (4.5 a), (4.5 b), (4.5 c), (4. 5 d),
(4.5 e), (4.5 f), (4.5 g) respectively.

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 Embaba
90,000m3/day Tanash &
Geziret
Oseem
Bashtil Mohamed
100,000 m3/day
Bragel 36,000 m3/day 61,000
Abu Rawash WWTP
64 m3/day m3/day
800,000 m3/day Junction P. S.
795,000m3/day
South Mouhit
400,000m3/day
Manshiet El Bakary Boulac P. S.
Abu Rawash P. S. 10,000 m3/day 400,000m3/day
795,000m3/day El Moutamadia
Kerdasa P. S.
10,000m3/day 117,000 m3/day

Zaied City.
5,000m3/day
Kafr Gataty P.S.
10,000m3/day Zenein WWTP
285,000 m3/day El Geza P. S.
3 El Etehad P. S.
165,000m /day
10 St. P. S.

Pyramids P. S.
GOSD P. S. No. 6 Emergency
200,000m3/day
70,000m3/day
3
0 m /day Zenein P. S.
80,000 m3/day
GOSD P. S. No. 1
165,000m3/day
GOSD P. S. No. 5 West Bank Project
105,000m3/day * Current flow/ year 2005
Chaops P. S. * Future connections
25,000m3/day
Shabrament Prepared by
30,000 m3/day CWO Technical Office
 Present Situation for Wastewater System in Greater Cairo 4-13

a) Collectors

Table 4.5 (a): Completed Contracts for the Wastewater Project in the West Bank
(Collectors)
Design Q Cost
Contract Length/
Description Section million Million
No. km
m3/d $
20 A Main collector at Embaba Circle dia. 0.8 –
18 620 107.1
2.75 m.
21 Main collector from Twin barrel
Embaba to Abu Rawash culvert each 10.4 650 29.73
3.00 x 2.00 m
23 A Release collector for Giza Circle dia. 1.2 –
5.5 850 20.42 LE
P.S. 2.5 m.
25 Main collector from Twin barrel
Pyramids P.S. to Junction culvert each 2.6 9 393 34.120
P.S. x 2.00 m
27 Drainage sewer network Circle dia. 0.8 –
collectors in the Pyramids 2.75 m 12.4 342 41.685
area
Source: Large steps towards better environment 1981-1998, The Organization for the Execution of the
Greater Cairo Wastewater Project, MHUUC, Cairo 1999.

b) Lift Pump Stations

Table 4.5 (b): Completed Contracts for the Wastewater Project in the West Bank
(Lift Pump Stations)
Design Q Cost
Contract Length/
Description Section million Million
No. km
m3/d $
22 Screw pump station 6.1
3 240
Embaba Boulak, South 8.5 – 8
4,4 624 44.64
Muheit 7.1 , 6.5
5,5 832
Junction, Abu Rawash
23 Zenein screw P.S. head 8.5 + 7.5 4
393 14.0
on 2 stages 4
26 Pyramids screw P.S. 8.5 3 416 9.364
28 Cheops screw P.S. 5.9 2 100 9.762
Source: Large steps towards better environment 1981-1998, The Organization for the Execution of the
Greater Cairo Wastewater Project, MHUUC, Cairo 1999.

c) Treatment Plants

Table 4.5 (c): Completed Contracts for the Wastewater Project in the West Bank
(Treatment Plants)
Contract Description Water Head No. of Design Q
No. M Pumps Million m3/d
29 Abu Rawash Primary 400 130.755
treatment plant
31 Rehabilitation of Primary + 330 74.152
existing Zenein Secondary
WWTP
Source: Large steps towards better environment 1981-1998, The Organization for the Execution of the
Greater Cairo Wastewater Project, MHUUC, Cairo 1999.
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Present Situation for Wastewater System in Greater Cairo 4-14

d) Improvement of the drains

Table 4.5 (d): Completed Contracts for the Wastewater Project in the West Bank
(Improvement of the drains)
Contract Design Q No. of
Description
No. Million m3/d Pumps
Improvement of Barakat, Abd El Rahman
30 A 1600
drains
43.00
Construction of twin Siphon under the
30 B 2000
Beheira canal
Source: Large steps towards better environment 1981-1998, The Organization for the Execution of the
Greater Cairo Wastewater Project, MHUUC, Cairo 1999.

e) Sludge Disposal Facilities

Table 4.5 (e): Completed Contracts for the Wastewater Project in the West Bank
(Sludge Disposal Facilities)
Contract Description Type of Design flow Cost Million $
No. Treatment M3/d/1000
Sludge force main
33 A 33.6 24.372
and lagoon disposal
33 B Sludge Pump Station 33.7 7.83
Source: Large steps towards better environment 1981-1998, The Organization for the Execution of the
Greater Cairo Wastewater Project, MHUUC, Cairo 1999.

f) Dewatering Pilot WWTP

Table 4.5 (f): Completed Contracts for the Wastewater Project in the West Bank
(Dewatering Pilot WWTP)
Contract Description Type of Design flow Cost Million $
No. Treatment M3/d/1000
Testing pilot for Anaerobic
35 50 4.289
sludge treatment bacteria
Source: Large steps towards better environment 1981-1998, The Organization for the Execution of the
Greater Cairo Wastewater Project, MHUUC, Cairo 1999.

g) Unsewered Areas – FAR Program

West bank unsewered areas are served by fixed amount reimbursable (FAR) program.
The FAR program was developed by USAID with the following major purposes:
• To provide sewers and house connection to residents in poor areas and
villages on the West Bank.
• To strengthen the ability and standard of Egyptian contractors. USAID
fund 79% of the program cost and the Egyptian Government fund 21%
of its cost.

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Present Situation for Wastewater System in Greater Cairo 4-15

Table 4.5 (g): Areas served by the Wastewater Project in the West Bank
No. approx. of
No. of Sewer Length Population
Served Area House
Contracts (km) Served
Connection
Embaba 27 282.305 64148 1137000
Pyramids 15 124.47 15085 250000
Saft El Laban 8 68.36 10034 196000
Abu Rawash 2 11.05 1280 40000
Kirdasa 9 60.77 8770 333000
Bani Magdoul 2 16.85 2210 44000
Maintenance 1 --- --- ---
Office
Total 64 563.805 83527
Source: Large steps towards better environment 1981-1998, The Organization for the Execution of the
Greater Cairo Wastewater Project, MHUUC, Cairo 1999.

Total cost of the far program = LE 525 million.

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Present Situation for Wastewater System in Greater Cairo 4-16

4.4 Helwan Project

The Helwan wastewater project (Figure 4.8) serves the area enclosed between the
River Nile to the west, Helwan and Tora to the east, Maadi and Bassateen to the
north, and Markaz El Saff to the south. This area is occupied by a population of about
2 million.

The main components of the project are as follows:

1. Main collectors of length 32 km and force mains of length

11.85 km, with variable diameters.
2. Gravity sewer lines of a total length 315 km, with variable
diameters.
3. Five main pumping stations of capacities ranging between
120,000 m3/d and 460,000 m3/d.
4. Three lift stations of capacities between 25,000 m3/d and
55,000 m3/d.
5. A secondary (biological) WWTP at Arab Saad with a
capacity of 250,000 m3/d.

Details of completed contracts for the wastewater project in Helwan which have been
in service as of the year 2000 are as follows (Figure 4.9):

a) Networks and Collectors

Table 4.6 (a): Completed Contracts under Helwan Project (Networks and Collectors)
Contract Description Cross Section Length Cost in
No. Km Million
1&2 Wastewater main Circular re-enforced 18.05 LE
collector concrete pipes dia. 10 53.45 DM
Between 3.4 m, 3 m 4.55 DFL
3 Gravity sewers Circular with dia. between
9 4.46 LE
800 mm & 1800 mm
4 Wastewater collector Horseshoe with dimension
between Helwan & between (2.4x2.6m) and 8 59.99 LE
Maasara (2.3x2.15 m)
5A Sludge drying beds 660 drying beds units
--- 6.21 LE
modification
7 Gravity sewers in Circular with dia. between
20
industrial area + P.S. 225-750 mm force main 7.24 LE
1,25
and force main dia. 400 mm
11 Main collector from Horseshoe with diam. of
6 38.33 LE
Maasara to Torah (2 m x 2.15 m)
12 Gravity sewers North Circular, dia. between 225
10 3.2 LE
of Helwan mm – 1000 mm
13 Gravity sewers North Circular, dia. between 225
37 3.99 LE
of Helwan mm – 120 mm
14 Main collector from Horseshoe with diam.
3.5 18.19 LE
Torah to South Maadi between (1.6 m x 1.72 m)
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Present Situation for Wastewater System in Greater Cairo 4-17

and (1.2 m x 1.4 m)

LE= Egyptian Pound DM= German Mark DFL= Dutch Florine
Source: Updating Masterplan of Helwan Wastewater Project, October 2005

Table 4.6 (a) (Cont’d): Completed Contracts under Helwan Project (Networks and
Collectors)
Contract Description Cross Section Length Cost in
No. Km Million
15, 16 Gravity sewers in Dia. between 225 mm –
70.00 LE
Helwan and Torah 600 mm 60
(estimated)
areas
21 Main collector to Horseshoe with gradual
serve Zahraa El- dia. from (0.9 x 1 m) –
4.5 27.103 LE
Maadi and central (1.6 m x 1.72 m)
Plateau
Shoubak Gravity sewers Dia. between 225 – 275
13.71 6.9 LE
& Minya m
Source: Updating Masterplan of Helwan Wastewater Project, October 2005

b) Lift Pump Stations

Table 4.6 (b): Completed Contracts under Helwan Project (Lift Pump Stations)
Contract Description Water No. of Units Design Cost in
3
No. Head m. m /sec Million
1 Pump station
No. 2 and its 6 4 screw 5.7 – 7.4 ---
force main
2 Pump station
No. 3 and its 6 3 screw 2–6 ---
force main
4 P.S. No. 4 6 2 screw 1.35 – 2.7 ---
8 Main P.S. and
4 centrifugal 350000 11.23 LE
twin force 40
2 centrifugal m3/d 15.85 DM
main
9 Irrigation P.S. 4 centrifugal 350000 3.51 LE
40
2 centrifugal m3/d 20.315 DM
Source: Updating Masterplan of Helwan Wastewater Project, October 2005

c) Wastewater Treatment

Table 4.6 (c): Completed Contracts under Helwan Project (Wastewater Treatment)
Contract Description Treatment Design Q Cost
No. 1000 m3/d/ in Million $
5, 6 WWTP Primary + 350 18032.56 Lit
Secondary 2.41 LE
Source: Updating Masterplan of Helwan Wastewater Project, October 2005

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Present Situation for Wastewater System in Greater Cairo 4-20

4.5 Wastewater Treatment Plants in Greater Cairo

There are six WWTPs in Greater Cairo (Figure 4.10), the following is a brief
description of the main three WWTPs:

4.5.1 Gabal El Asfar WWTP

Location: North east of Greater Cairo, established at different stages, occupying a

total area of 1500 feddan. The first stage was executed covering an area of 450
feddan with additional area of 550 feddan for sludge handling while the rest of 500
feddan is allocated for future extension.

Capacity: First stage was commissioned in 1998 with a design capacity of 1 Mm3/d.
Second stage was operational as of October 2004 with a capacity of 500,000 m3/d.

Treatment System: Primary treatment and secondary activated sludge treatment

achieving removals between 94 to 97% for BOD and SS. Anaerobic digestion of
sludge is used; the generated biogas covers about 70% of the electrical energy
required to operate the plant. Mechanical drying of digested sludge by filter press is
also provided. The final effluent is chlorinated and reused in irrigation of forestry
land.

4.5.2 Abu Rawash WWTP

Location: North west of Greater Cairo, at 24 km east of the Cairo-Alexandria Desert

Road. It occupies an area of 520 including expansions.

Capacity: The first stage was commissioned in 1992 with an average capacity of
400,000 m3/d. The second stage will expand the capacity to 1.2 Mm3/d by the year
2010 with a final stage to increase the capacity to 2 Mm3/d.

Treatment System: Only primary treatment of raw wastewater is provided. The

treatment works include inlet pumping station, coarse and medium screens, aerated
grit chambers, primary sedimentation tanks, chlorine contract tanks and sludge
lagoons.

4.5.3 Helwan WWTP

Location: South east of Greater Cairo at Arab Saad. It serves Helwan, Torra, Maadi,
Basateen and Al Saf districts.

Capacity: The first stage was commissioned in 1978 with an average capacity of
250,000-m3/d and maximum capacity of 466,000 m3/d. The plant is currently
overloaded as the flow reached 420,000 m3/d. Plant expansion is required to increase
the capacity to 550,000 m3/d in a second stage and finally to 960,000 m3/d in a third
stage.

Treatment System: Primary and secondary (biological) treatment of wastewater as

well as sludge digestion and drying beds.

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Present Situation for Wastewater System in Greater Cairo 4-21

4.5.4 Zenein WWTP

Location: North West of Greater Cairo

Capacity: Zenein WWTP was originally taken into operation in 1970 and extended to
the present capacity of 330,000 m3/day in 1978. In the beginning of 1990’s the
WWTP was rehabilitated to the present extent. Today the WWTP is located in the
middle of a housing area. During the time when it was originally constructed, it was
surrounded by agricultural fields.

The average flow (2001) to the WWTP is approximately 271,000 m3/day. The
influent sewage quality in terms of BOD5 and suspended solids concentrations are
about 240 mg/l. No major industrial discharges to collection system exist.

Treatment system: primary and secondary (biological) treatment as well as sludge

dewatering facilities. The excess flow is directed to a preliminary treatment facility,
for grit removal, and the flows are then diverted into the Nahya drain. Future plans
calls for the contamination of plant facilities at its present design capacity of 330,000
m3/day.

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 Cairo Wastewater
Treatment Plants

Gabal Asfar WWTP

Shubra El-Khyma WWTP

Berka WWTP

Abo Rawash WWTPِ

Zenin WWTP

Helwan WWTP

Figure 4.10 Greater Cairo Wastewater Treatment Plants

Present Situation for Wastewater System in Greater Cairo 4-23

4.6 Effluent Management

Water reclamation is a viable alternative for conservation and management of
available water supplies and presents a method of pollution prevention – enabling the
avoidance of effluent discharges to sensitive water bodies. These are important
considerations for Egypt, where the Nile is both the main source for potable and
irrigation water and also the receiver of large amounts of industrial and domestic
wastewater effluent.

CAPWO and other Egyptian authorities have expressed interest in establishing

effluent reuse programs, coupled with expansion and upgrade of the wastewater
treatment works. What follows here is a brief review of the current situation with
respect to effluent reuse in Egypt, and some of the environmental issues to be factored
into establishing such a reuse scheme.

4.6.1 Effluent Reuse in Egypt

As has been demonstrated in countries across the world, reclaimed wastewater can be
safely and economically used for: crop production; landscaping, recreational grounds
irrigation, industrial processes, cooling towers, air conditioning, stack gas scrubbing,
toilet flushing, construction, fire fighting, environmental enhancements (wetlands
preservation).

Water reuse has been practiced in Egypt for over 100 years, through government
sanctioned projects as well as unofficial practices. Water reuse has been used since
1915 at the government farm of Gabal El Asfr near Cairo. The Afforestation and
Environment Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation has
developed 10 forest plantations across Egypt that are irrigated by treated sewage
water. In addition, farms in Ismailia, Helwan, Qena and Abu Rawash have been
officially operating on treated effluent. And in areas without sewerage, such as in the
Nile Delta, septic tanks are routinely emptied into agriculture drains, which are then
used as a source for irrigation during water shortages.

Very little study has been undertaken on the sanctioned effluent reuse schemes, with
the exception of the Gabel El Asfr scheme. This project is approximately 25 km
northeast of Cairo, on the edge of the Delta flood plain. The farm is 3000 feddans
(i.e. 1350 ha). Since 1915 the farm has been irrigated using effluent that has received
only basic sedimentation. In 1992, the average application rate was 80,000 m3/d of
effluent.

Salinity of the effluent was tested to be around 1000 mg/l. Chloride and sulfate
concentrations of 160 mg/l and 26-60 mg/l respectively were found in the effluent.
Average COD content was 470 mg/l. Average total-N content was about 14 to 60
mg/l with NH4 concentrations from 10 to 65 mg/l and NO concentrations ranging
from 25 to 45 mg/l. In addition, relatively high Boron concentrations of 0.7 to 2 mg/l
were found in the effluent. Groundwater studies in the area showed significant impact
on the groundwater table, with especially high nitrogen content, heavy metals and
fecal coliforms.

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 Present Situation for Wastewater System in Greater Cairo 4-24

4.6.2 Effluent Reuse Legislation in Egypt

Egyptian standards and restrictions for the reuse of treated wastewater are set out in
Presidential Decree No. 44 (2000) and its precursor, Decree No. 16 (1995).
Microbiological standards applying to treated wastewater reuse in Egypt generally
follow the WHO (1989), and US EPA (1992) Guidelines. Recently, the MHUUC has
published the Egyptian Code for Reuse of Treated Wastewater Effluent in
Agriculture, Code EPC 501-2005.

The following two tables (4.7 and 4.8) from Decree 44 (2000) provide the required
parameters for effluent reuse:

Table 4.7 Maximum Standards Permitted for Reusing Treated Wastewater

Effluents & Degree of Treatment

Primary Secondary Advanced

Ser. Description Unit Treated Treated Treated
Effluent Effluent Effluent
1 BOD5 ppm 300 40 20
2 COD Dichromate ppm 600 80 40
3 TSS ppm 350 40 20
4 Oils and Grease ppm Undetermined 10 5
5 Number of enteric Number/litr 5 1 1
nematode cells or e
eggs
6 Number of faecal For every Undetermined 1000 100
coliform cells 200/m2
7 Maximum ppm < 2500 < 2000 < 2000
concentration of
total dissolved salts
(according to plant
endurance degree)
8 Rate of Sodium ppm 25 20 20
adsorption
(permeability
according to type
of soil and plant)
9 Chlorides ppm < 350 300 300
concentration
10 Boron ppm <5 <3 <3
concentration
Metals
Cadmium ppm 0.06 0.01 0.01
Lead ppm 10 5 5
Copper ppm undetermined 0.2 0.2
Nickel ppm 0.5 0.2 0.2
Zinc ppm undetermined 2 2
Arsenic ppm undetermined undetermine 0.1
d
Chrome ppm undetermined undetermine 0.1
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Present Situation for Wastewater System in Greater Cairo 4-25

Primary Secondary Advanced

Ser. Description Unit Treated Treated Treated
Effluent Effluent Effluent
d
Molybolenum ppm 0.2 0.2
(green fodder only)
Manganese ppm 0.2 0.2 0.2
Iron ppm undetermined 5 5
Cobalt ppm undetermined 0.05 0.05
Source: Decree (44/2000)

Table 4.8 Reusing Treated Wastewater Effluent in Agriculture; Degree of

Treatment, Plant and Soil Types, and Method of Irrigation

Degree of Plants Environmental and Irrigation Proposed

Treatment Suitable Health Soils
Precautions Method
Primary Trees for Fenced off Furrow Light
Timber areas of use texture
Site restricted to Authorized
farm workers for use in
No direct desert land
contact with 5 km away
surface and from
groundwater dwelling
Health communiti
measures es
required for Must
protection from comply
pathogenic with
organisms and periodic
treatments assessment
of the
environme
nt
Secondary Palm trees Cattle not Furrow and sprinkling Light to
Cotton, flax, yielding milk medium
linen, jute nor producing texture
Fodder meat soils
crops & Food should be
dried cereals cooked prior to
Husked eating
fruits and
crops
Cooking
vegetables
Heat
processed
fruits
Flower
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Present Situation for Wastewater System in Greater Cairo 4-26

Degree of Plants Environmental and Irrigation Proposed

Treatment Suitable Health Soils
Precautions Method
nurseries
Advanced Raw edible None All methods except All soil
plants spraying types
Husked
plants
All types –
horticulture
crops
Fodder and
green
grasses
Source: Decree (44/2000)

4.6.3 Effluent Reuse Demand, Benefits and Risks

Egypt’s Water Policy/Water Balance report: 1997 – 2017 set an expectation that 20.4
billion m3/y of water will be needed for reclamation projects by 2017. The expected
sources are 5.9 billion from groundwater, 5.5 billion from agricultural drainage water,
3 billion from crop substitution and 4 billion from improved irrigation practices. Also
included would be 2 billion from treated effluent: Current estimates are that .04
billion of treated effluent is being used per year.

Environmental and economic benefits include:

• Reduced pollutant loading to the Nile and coastal waters

• Long term possible reduction in the cost of treating surface water for potable
use
• Additional reclamation of land for crop cultivation
• Expanded crop production
• Beneficial impact on the local labour situation
• Increase in land values.

Potential reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers. The environmental risks in

using treated effluent include:

• Potential nitrogen loading to groundwater and to agricultural drains

• Potential for build-up of other toxic materials (organics and heavy
metals)
• Potential health hazards from using the effluent for crops and other
purposes not intended
• Long term build-up of salinity in the soil
• Health hazard to workers if not adequately trained
• Boron build up

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Present Situation for Wastewater System in Greater Cairo 4-28

4.6.4 Effluent Reuse Code

In light of the experiences at El-Gabel El Asfar and elsewhere, discussions are

underway in the government on how best to use treated effluent safely. A draft
Effluent and Sludge Reuse Code and Guidelines is under preparation. Drafting
groups under the auspices of the Housing and Building Research Centre (within
MHUUC) have been meeting to develop the text. The drafting groups include experts
from a wide variety of Ministries and outside experts (MHUUC, MWRI, MoA, MoH,
EEAA, Ag Research Centre, various universities).

It is important to note that the issue of what can be done with treated effluent is a
potential bottleneck. Discussions within the drafting groups include whether to make
reuse standards more restrictive than current guidelines under Decree 44/2000, (and
international guidelines such as FAO, EPA, EU).

4.6.5 Opportunities for Effluent Reuse in Greater Cairo

The large possibilities for commercial use of the treated effluent should be seriously
taken into account in any decisions on the extent of secondary treatment facilities to
be built as part of the expansion of the WWTPs in Greater Cairo. The price to be paid
for establishing a secondary treatment system is likely to match that would be
required to clean the polluted river with the added benefit of reusing the secondary
treated effluent for producing crops for market.

According to the Egyptian Code (ECP 501-2005) published in 2005, three grades of
effluent quality namely grades A, B and C were specified for water reuse in irrigation
which require advanced treatment for Grade A, secondary treatment for Grade B, and
primary treatment for Grade C. While treated effluents satisfying the requirements for
Grades A and B could be used for irrigating agricultural lands, the reuse of treated
effluents with Grade C is limited to irrigation of forest lands (wooden trees) and some
plants for the production of industrial oils only. This in turn calls for the application of
secondary wastewater treatment plants as a minimal requirement for effective water
reuse programs.

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5. Assessment of Existing Infrastructure in Greater
Cairo: Future Plans and Analysis of Bottlenecks
Assessment of Existing Infrastructure in Greater Cairo and Analysis of Bottlenecks 5-1

5. ASSESSMENT OF EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE IN

GREATER CAIRO AND ANALYSIS OF BOTTLENECKS

5.1 Introduction
Some 20 years ago, one of the largest wastewater projects was launched in Greater Cairo. The
Organization for the Execution of the Greater Cairo Wastewater Project (CWO) undertook the
responsibility of preparing the necessary studies and implementing this project. The project
area has been, for practical reasons, divided into two sub-areas, the one covering the West
Bank of the Nile, the other the East Bank. In the south, the Helwan area was later added to the
Greater Cairo Wastewater Scheme. The initial masterplan for this project was produced in
1978. This involved evaluating existing wastewater installations, preparing plans for their
rehabilitation where appropriate and identifying the need for new facilities. Detailed proposals
were developed for an extensive collector system serving the greater part of Cairo city,
involving large-scale construction in tunnel on the east bank of the Nile. In 1984 detailed
engineering designs were completed for the scheme.

This chapter presents the existing wastewater system (sewer networks, pumping stations, and
wastewater treatment plants) in Greater Cairo for each of the three areas: East Bank, West
Bank, and Helwan. An analysis of the existing bottlenecks and the future plans required to
ease these bottlenecks are also presented in this chapter.

5.2 East Bank Project

The East Bank area is divided into three zones: Central Cairo, Shoubra El-Kheima, and Nasr
City. The wastewater collection network has been upgraded several times since the
preparation of the master plan of the year 1978.

5.2.1 Background

5.2.1.1 Summary of the Masterplan of 1978

The 1978 Masterplan has always been the reference document for CWO planning. The
strategy defined by the Masterplan was to divide the East Bank network into three main equal
size systems with transfer facilities to split the flows between those systems (Figure 5.1):
i) A separate collector system for the Shoubra El Kheima area (north of Ismailia Canal)
leading to a treatment plant discharging into the Shebeen El Kanater drain.
ii) A new conveyance tunnel aligned after the rout of the Emergency Canal to transfer to
Berka WWTP the wastewater of the relatively elevated areas of Mokattam, Nasr City and
Heliopolis on the eastern and northeastern fringes of the city.
iii) A main conveyance system from Ameriya to Gabal El Asfar to serve the remaining part of
the East Bank.

In order to use the treatment plants at their full capacity, it was planned to connect the main
culverts to Shoubra and Berka wastewater treatment plants by:

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• Implementing two θ 1200 mm pipes and a transfer pumping station (TPS) in Khossous to
transfer flow from the main culvert to Shoubra El Kheima WWTP.
• Rehabilitating the old Pumping Stations no. 3 and 4 in Ameriya to deliver wastewater to
Berka treatment plant.

5.2.1.2 Summary of Implemented and Planned Works according to 1978 Masterplan

According to this strategy, the first stage of works consisted of:

a) The Main Tunnel Project, comprising:

• A deep interceptor system in alluvial tunnel under Central Cairo (θ 4000 to 5000 mm) at a
depth around 16 m over a 13.7 mm distance from Ameriya to Ein El Seira.
• A new deep pumping station serving the central conveyance tunnel at Ameriya (capacity
2,150,000 m3/day).
• A new pumping station serving the existing collectors at Ameriya
• Gravity culverts between Ameriya and Khossous and a pumping station at Khossous.
• A transfer pumping station at Khossous and two θ 1200 force mains to Shoubra El
Kheima WWTP.

b) The Main East Bank Project, comprising:

• The extension of the main conveyance tunnel in rock under Fostat to serve Maadi
Drainage Area with a branch to Dar el Salam.
• Branch interceptors in tunnel under central Cairo from the main conveyance tunnel.
• A new conveyance culvert from Khossous to Kalag.
• The connection of collector no. 1 to the America to Khossous culvert close to the
urban boundary in Matareya.
• The first stage of Gabal El Asfar WWTP, capacity 1,000,000 m3/day.

c) The Maadi Sewerage Project, comprising:

• New conveyance system in Maadi to connect Maadi and Bassatine to the rock tunnel
(under construction)
• The sewerage of the presently unsewered areas of Bassatine and Dar el Salam (under
construction)

d) The Nasr City Collectors Project, comprising:

• An additional collector (θ 2750 mm) from Nasr City to the Emergency canals.
• The culverting of the Emergency canals including a new pumping station in Bridge
no. 3.

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Figure 5.1: Master Plan of 1978 for the East Bank of Greater Cairo

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e) The secondary treatment unit of Berka WWTP.

f) The Shoubra El Kheima Wastewater treatment plant (capacity 600,000 m3/day).

g) The enlargement of the Gabal El Asfar drain to convey the flows up to 1,75 million
3
m /day to the Belbeis drain.

h) The enlargement of Shebeen el Kanater drain to convey flows up to 600,000 m3/day to

Baher El Bakar drain.

i) Rock tunnel from Ein El-Siera to Maadi

j) Culverting of the Emergency Canals and the new pumping station in Bridge no. 3

Other stages that are planned to follow the first stage:

• The extension of the wastewater system to the villages of 23 July, Berka, Kalag, Khossous
and El Marg (currently: ongoing)
• The extension of Nasr City sewerage network (currently: ongoing)
• A new collector along collector no. 1.
• The extension of the sewerage system of Shoubra El Kheima (currently: ongoing)
• Wastewater facilities for the Abu Zaabal and Khanka urban areas
• The diversion of the force main Ein Shams puming station and Berka to Gabal El Asfar
WWTP (planned)
• A further culvert from Nasr City to Gabal El Asfar WWTP (planned)

5.2.2 Existing Facilities

5.2.2.1 Conveyance System Capacity Analysis

The scheme hereafter presents the present situation of the network (Figure 5.2).

Pumping Stations

The capacities of the pumping stations are as follows:

Ameriya Tunnel PS
• 8 pumps can be with a capacity of 3600 l/s or 311,000 m3/d.
• 7 pumps can be operated simultaneously giving a total discharge of 2,200,000 m3/d.

Ameriya Collectors PS
• 4 Archimedean screws each with a capacity of 2,170 l/s or 187,000 m3/d.
• 3 Screws can be operated simultaneously giving a total discharge of 560,000 m3/d.

Khossous Screw PS
• 12 Archimedean screws each with a capacity of 2,170 l/s or 187,000 m3/d.
• 10 Screws can be operated simultaneously giving a total discharge of 1,875,000 m3/d.

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Khossous Transfer PS
• 4 Pumps, each with a capacity of 1,350 l/s or 116,000 m3/d.
• 3 Pumps can be operated simultaneously giving a total discharge of 350,000 m3/d.

Kalag
• 10 Archimedean screws each with a capacity of 2,170 l/s or 187,000 m3/d.
• 8 Screws can be operated simultaneously giving a total discharge of 1,500,000 m3/d.

Bahtime PS
• 8 Pumps, each with a capacity of 1,200 l/s or 104,000 m3/d.
• 6 Pumps can be operated simultaneously giving a total discharge of 620,000 m3/d.

The civil works of this pumping station are designed for the installation of two additional
pumps to reach a capacity of 830,000 m3/d.

Capacity of the Conveyance Culverts

The main conveyance culverts are the following:

a) From Ameriya to Gabal El Asfar

Length Capacity
Culvert Dimensions Slope
(m) (m3/d)
America – Urban Boundary 2 culverts
1/1900 2920 2,200,000
4mx3m
Urban Boundary – Khossous 3 culverts
1/2050 3140 2,250,000
3,5 m x 3 m
Khossous – Kalag 2 culverts
1/1900 5500 1,537,000
3mx3m
Kalag – Gabal El Asfar 2 culverts
1/1900 2300 1,537,000
3mx3m
Matariya Branch – Urban 1 culverts
1/1625 890 745,000
Boundary 2,75m x 3 m
Khossous – Shoubra El 2 x θ 1200 m Force main 1500 350,000
Kheima

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b) Shoubra El Kheima

Length Capacity
Culvert Dimensions Slope
(m) (m3/d)
Factory – Collector 3250 mm Information
3900
not found
Bahtime – Shoubra El 2 x θ1500
Force main 2600 550,000
Kheima mm

c) Ein Shams

Length Capacity
Culvert Dimensions Slope
(m) (m3/d)
To old Gabal El Asfar θ 1200 mm
Forced main 12000 150,000
treatment plant
To Berka θ 1200 mm Forced main 9000 150,000
To Emergency Canals θ 1200 mm Forced main 1,800 150,000

5.2.3 Future Plans

The Berka Wastewater Treatment Plant

By 2015, the total discharges conveyed to Berka WWTP will reach 651,000 m3/day and will
exceed the capacity of the Berka treatment plant.

Therefore, it is planned to divert the excess flows to Gabal El Asfar Wastewater Treatment
Plant by implementing a new culvert from Nasr City and by connecting the force main from
Ain Shams pumping station to Gabal El-Asfar WWTP (Figure 5.3).

Shoubra El Kheima Wastewater Treatment Plant

Shoubra El Kheima WWTP treates the wastewater discharges from Shoubra El Kheima area.
These discharges vary from 300,000 m3/day in 1995 to 466,000 m3/day in 2015. Therefore,
the excess wastewater flows is planned to be pumped from Khossous through Khossous
Transfer Pump Station to ease the load over Shoubra El-Kheima WWTP, so that, finally, the
excess wastewater will be conveyed to Gabal El-Asfar WWTP.

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Figure 5.2 Sewered Areas

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.
Figure 5.3 Proposed Connection between Ein Shams and Gabal El Asfar

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Main Transfer System

In 2015, the discharges going from Ameriya to Khossous will be as follows:

Average (000 m3/day) Peak (000 m3/day)

America – Urban Boundary 1470 1910
Urban Boundary – Khossous 1590 2070

The existing facilities are sufficient to meet the needs up 2015. In Khossous, the networks
implemented by CWO should add an estimated discharge of 200,000 m3/d. Whether this flow
is to be discharged upstream or downstream, the capacity of Khossous Pumping Station
should vary between 2,1 millions m3/d and 2,4 millions m3/d by the year 2015. Thus, this
pumping station will then need to be extended with an additional 2 or 3 screws (standby not
included). Accordingly, the discharges in the different sections downstream Khossous
pumping station will be:

Average (000 m3/day) Peak (000 m3/day)

Khossous – Interconnection Chamber 1660 2190
Interconnection Chamber – Kalag PS 1730 2280
Kalag PS – Gabal El Asfar 1760 2330
Gabal El Asfar IPS 1830 2420

The conveyance system downstream Khossous pumping station will then be overloaded and
new facilities must be implemented. These facilities must be designed to transfer the flow
corresponding to the year 2015.

By 2015, Gabal El Asfar WWTP will have a capacity of 2,000,000 m3/day (peak: 2,600,000
m3/day). Taking into account that 100,000 m3/day will come directly from Gabal El Asfar
village and Ain Shams, the transfer capacity of the system should be:

Khossous SPS: 2,500,000 m3/day

Culvert Khossous – IC: 2,400,000 m3/day
Culvert IC – Kalag: 2,450,000 m3/day
Kalag PS: 2,500,000 m3/day
Culvert Kalag – Gabal: 2,500,000 m3/day
Gabal IPS: 2,600,000 m3/day

a) Khossous Pumping Station

The extension of Khossous Screw Pumping Station will consist of a new building with 4
screws of 187,500 m3/d (1 standby).

b) Kalag Pumping Station

The extension of Kalag Pumping Station will consist of a new building with 7 screws of
187,500 m3/d (1 standby).

c) Culvert Khossous – Interconnection – Chamber - Kalag

Two alternatives are feasible:
• One additional culvert 3.5 m x 3 m.
• Two concrete pipes θ 2750 mm.
However, the second alternative is cheaper
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5.3 West Bank Project

5.3.1 Background

The sanitary sewerage system of the City of Cairo dates from 1914 and originally consisted of
a partially combined system serving the East Bank. Its main elements were a 50,000 cmd
treatment plant at Gabal El Asfar, approximately 25 km northeast of the city, and a main
collector served by 63 ejector stations. From 1925 through 1954, the collection system was
expanded and various pumping stations and relief collectors were added, as well as additional
sedimentation tanks at Gabal El Asfar.

The initial West Bank system was commissioned in 1939. Its wastewater was pumped to a
treatment plant at Abu Rawash, located approximately 15 km west of the Nile River.

In the mind 1960s, the “One Hundred Days Scheme” added new primary treatment facilities
at Nahya on the West Bank (80,000 cmd) and at Khossous on the East Bank (150,000 cmd),
as well as relief and pumping facilities to divert southern East Bank flows to the West Bank
through an inverted siphon that had been constructed under the Nile.

The West Bank treatment plant, at Zenien, was commissioned in 1970. This had an initial
design capacity of 220,000 cmd and in 1978 was under expansion to a total capacity of
330,000. By that time, lack of system capacity and the poor condition of many of the
facilities had lead to a situation in which sewage ponding was a normal occurrence in many
parts of the city and in which no effective secondary treatment was being given to any of the
collected wastewater.

In 1978-79, Taylor Binnie & Partners prepared a master plan for the Greater Cairo
Wastewater Project for the Ministry of Housing and Reconstruction. With the availability of
USA and UK funding assistance, AMBRIC was formed in 1979 to assist with the
implementation of the project.

The initial tasks of AMBRIC included preparing an Interim Development Plan Report. Part I
of this report, presented in June 1980, reviewed the master plan population projections in the
light of the 1976 census data, and made use of flow measurement, sampling and analysis data
to reassess overall flows and loads. It presented a staged development plan for design and
construction of first stage works. Part II of the Interim Development Plan Report, presented
in February 1981, proposed a major rehabilitation and upgrading effort for the Zenein
treatment works.

In June 1981 AMBRIC submitted the Design Inception Report (DIR). This report refined the
population, flow and load projections based on the same data as used in the Interim
Development Plan Report and presented revised facility planning criteria applicable up to the
year 2000 and the planning horizon (saturation development). It reduced the level of
treatment proposed at Abu Rawash from tertiary to secondary but otherwise introduced only
minor changes from the Interim Development Plan Report proposals. It also presented design
criteria and construction packaging for the first stage works.

In the period 1982-84, first stage detailed designs and construction documents were prepared
for CWO by AMBRIC.

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Rehabilitation of existing conveyance facilities took place from 1983-86. Rehabilitation of the
Zenein wastewater treatment plant began in 1987 and it is now in operation. Construction of
the GCWWP facilities shown on (Figure 5.8) began on the East Bank in 1984 and on the
West Bank in 1985. Major West Bank conveyance works, effluent drain improvements, and a
new 400,000 cmd primary treatment plant at Abu Rawash have been completed and are
operational. Construction of some of the West Bank local sewer system under FARA
contracts will continue into 1995, as will the construction of sludge conveyance and disposal
facilities.

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Pump station (by 1997). Options for possible expansion of the Zenein treatment plant were
considered, but any final decision was deferred pending more detailed investigations.
Planning proposals for major West Bank wastewater conveyance and treatment facilities were
prepared, which were estimated to cost $655 million through 1995 and $1,550 million
through 2010 (at 1990 price levels). The costs for local sewers and house connections on the
West Bank were estimated at an average of about $50 million per year through the year 2010.

5.3.2 Existing Facilities

5.3.2.1 Introduction

Since its beginning in 1984, the Cairo Sewerage II Project has resulted in the design and
construction of several significant projects which now comprise the major components of the
West Bank wastewater collection, conveyance, treatment and disposal facilities. These
facilities are shown in Figure 5.9.

5.3.2.2 Projects Funded by AID

Major West Bank Contracts

• Contract 20A – Construction of the major collectors in Embaba, Mohandessin and a

portion of Dokki. This contract is completed and has been in service since October,
1992.
• Contract 21 – Under this contract, a twin-barrel culvert, each barrel 3.0 m wide by 2.0
m high, was constructed from the Boulaq Pump Station to the Abu Rawash Pump
Station. The works are complete and the facility has been in use since October 1992.
• Contract 22 – The Embaba, Boulaq, South Muheit, Junction and Abu Rawash Pump
Stations were all constructed under this contract. All work is complete and these
pump stations have been in operation since October, 1992.
• Contract 23 – The Zenein Pump Station was constructed under this contract. All work
is complete and the facility has been in operation since September 1992.
• Contract 23A – This contract is for the construction of a major collector in the Giza
area, and runs from the Zenein Pump Station to Pyramids Road. This collector carries
flows from existing subsidiary pumping stations directly to Zenein and eliminates the
need to re-pump through the Giza Pump Station. A small portion of this collector was
placed into service in September, 1992, and the remainder was placed into full service
in May, 1993.
• Contract 25 – A twin – barrel culvert, each barrel 2.6 m wide by 2.0 m high, from
Pyramids Pump Station to Junction Pump Station, was constructed under this contract.
• Contract 26 – The Pyramids Pump Station was constructed under this contract.
• Contract 27 – This contract provides for the construction of the major collectors in the
Pyramids area, and discharges to the Cheops and Pyramids Pump Stations.
• Contract 28 – The Cheops Pump Station was constructed under this contract.
• Contract 29 – The Abu Rawash Wastewater Treatment Plant has been built under this
contract.
• Contract 30A – This contract provided for the improvement of the drains which carry
the discharge of the effluent from the Abu Rawash WWTP to the Muheit Drain.
• Contract 30B – This contract is for the construction of twin siphons which pass
underneath the Beheira Canal, and have the capacity to carry the flows of the Lebbini
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Drain and the Muheit Drain under the canal, and discharge ultimately into the Rosetta
branch of the Nile River.
• Contract 31 – The rehabilitation of the existing Zenein WWTP was completed under
this contract, and the facility was placed into service in September 1990.
• Contracts 33A and 33B – These contracts are for the Western Desert Sludge Disposal
Facilities. A sludge pumping station (Contract 33B) pumps sludge from the Abu
Rawash WWTP, through a force main to the Western Desert Lagoon Disposal
Facilities (Contract 33A).
• Contract 35 – This contract, for the construction of a Pilot Mechanical Sludge
Dewatering Facility at the Zenein WWTP.

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5.3.2.3 Sewers and House Connections

In addition to the major contracts described above, AID participated in the funding of 43
contracts for the construction of sewers and house connections in the Embaba, Saft El Labban
(Zenein) and Pyramids areas of the West Bank.

Projects Funded by Others

In addition to the works funded by AID under Cairo Sewerage II, there are other projects
carried out by other donors, which became part of the West Bank wastewater collection and
disposal system. These projects were funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) and by GOSD, from their own funding sources.

Projects Funded by JICA

• Omrania West – This project included the provision of major collectors, as well as
secondary sewers to serve the Omrania West area of Giza City, along with the
rehabilitation and upgrading of the Amina Mohamed Pump Station (GOSD Pump
Station No. 3), now referred to as Japanese Friendship Pump Station. The discharge
from this pump station is to the GOSD Pump Station No. 1 (Al Ahram), which pumps
to the Zenein WWTP. This project is completed and in service.
• Monib Project (Phase I) – This project, currently under construction, provides for a
major collector, from the village of Tersa, north to and through Monieb, and then west
to the GOSD Pump Station No. 5 facility, as well as sewers for the principal streets in
Monib.
• Monib Project (Phase II) – This project is for the construction of the screw pump
station at the GOSD Pump Station No. 5 complex.

Projects Funded by GOSD

• GOSD Pump Station No. 5 – Width the exception of the screw pump station, GOSD
has funded the construction of this facility, which consists of a centrifugal pump
station, generator facility, transformer building and housing for GOSD personnel.
Although essentially complete, this facility has not yet been placed into service.
Flows which presently arrive at the facility are pumped to GOSD Pump Station No. 1,
using a submersible pump installed in a junction chamber just outside the entrance to
the complex.
• GOSD Pump Station No. 6 – Construction of this facility, located in King Faisal
Street, east of the Mariouteia Canal, is completed. There are two different discharge
force mains from this facility: one which flows to GOSD Pump Station No. 1, for
further pumping to Zenein WWTP, and the other, which discharge into the I-line of
the Contract 27 collector. It is GODS’s intent to discharge to the Contract 27 collector
until such time as the flows from the GOSD No. 5 screw pump station reach the
capacity of the I.line.
• GOSD Pump Station No. 1 Expansion and Relief Force Main – On account of the
projected increased flows arriving at GOSD Pump Station No. 1, and because of the
limited capacity of the two 900 mm force mains to the Zenein WWTP, a 1500 mm
relief force main was constructed from the GOSD Pump Station No. 1, to the Contract
25 culvert, and connected to the culvert just downstream of the Pyramids Pump
Station.

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In addition, another pumping station was constructed at the GOSD Pump Station No. 1 site.
The flow is pumped to either the Zenein WWTP or the Contract 25 collector, and then to the
Abu Rawash WWTP, thus allowing GOSD the opportunity of selecting which plant the flows
will be sent to, and the proportionate amount sent.

5.3.2.3 Capacities of Major Facilities

The following is a brief description of the installed capacities of the major components of the
wastewater collection, transmission and treatment facilities in the West Bank

Wastewater Treatment Plants

The Abu Rawash WWTP, a primary treatment facility only, has an average capacity of
400,000 m3/day, and a peak capacity of 600,000 m3/day. The effluent channel from the
chlorine facility has a capacity of 600,000 m3/day. In addition, a by-pass, having a capacity
of 232,000 m3/day, has been constructed from the inlet of the treatment plant, around the east
side of the plant, up to the diversion structure at the beginning of the Baraket Drain. The
improvements to the drains which were completed (Contract 30A) have increased the capacity
of these drains to 1.6 million m3/day.

The Zenein WWTP, a full secondary treatment facility, was designed to have an average
capacity of 330,000 m3/day, and a peak capacity of 429,000 m3/day. However, because of
hydraulic constraints in the modules, it has been found that only about 360,000 m3/day can be
carried through the plant without overflowing the conveyance channels. A by-pass facility is
incorporated into the influent structure of the treatment and excess flows are directed to a
Preliminary Treatment Facility, for grit removal, and the flows are then diverted into the
Nahya Drain.

Screw Pump Stations

Details as to the installed capacity, and ultimate capacity, of the principal screw pump stations
are presented in Table 5.1.

Table 5.1: West Bank Screw Pump Stations

Ultimate
Pump No. Rated Capacity Present Operating Operating
No. of
Station Pumps Each Pump Capacity (M3/day Capacity
Bays
Name Installed (M3/day x 1000) x 1000)(3) (M3/Day x
1000)(3)
Embaba 3 3 120 240 240
Boulaq 5 4 207 620 828
South 5 4 208 624 832
Muheit
Junction 5 5 208 832 832
Abu 5 5 208 832 832
Rawash

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Table 5.1 (Cont’d): West Bank Screw Pump Stations

Ultimate
Pump No. Rated Capacity Present Operating Operating
No. of
Station Pumps Each Pump Capacity Capacity
Bays
Name Installed (M3/day x 1000) (M3/day x 1000)(3) (M3/Day x
1000)
Pyramids 5 3 200 400 800
Cheops 3 2 100 100 200
Zenein 5x2 4x2 131 393 524
GOSD 4 3 142 284 426
5(2)
Notes:
(1) Assumes one Pump as Standby
(2) Funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Other Pump Stations

GOSD Pump Station No. 1 (Al Ahram). The original facility included three centrifugal
pumps, each rated at 830 liters/sec (71,700 m3/day). Two pumps were to be operating and
one standby. Due to the increased flows arriving at this station GOSD has supplemented the
pumping capacity by installing two pairs of pumps (each pump rated at 350 liters/sec (30,200
m3/day), in two junction chambers near the pump station. With one large pump and one small
pump designated as stand-by, this station has the capability to pump 234,000 m3/day to the
Zenein WWTP. However the discharge mains to Zenein are two 900 mm dia pipes. At a
discharge rate of 234,000 m3/day, the flow velocity in each pipe would be about 2.1
meters/sec, and the friction losses become sufficiently large that the pumping heads are
exceeded. GOSD has reported that the peak pumping rate is about 180,000 m3/day.

Although not yet produced, GOSD plans to install four pumps, each rated at 1.2 m3/sec, in the
expansion of the GOSD P.S. No. 1. It is intended that two pumps will normally operate,
discharging to the 1500 dia force main to the Pyramids culvert. With three pumps in
operation, this facility would have a peak discharge of about 310,000 m3/day, and the velocity
in the discharge main would be about 2.04 m/sec. Since the proposed pumps only have a
head of 20 meters, the peak pumping capacity may not be reached.

GOSD P.S. No. 6. Four pumps, each rated at 450 liers/sec will be installed at this station.
Assuming one pump as a standby, the remaining three pumps can discharge 116,600 m3/day.
As discussed in a later chapter, this is sufficient capacity to meet projected flows beyond the
planning horizon of the year 2005.

Culverts
The basis of design for the two major culverts which convey wastewater flows to Junction
Pump Station and the Abu Rawash WWTP assumed that, over time, there would be a build-
up of detritus in the culvert, to a depth of 20 cm. This would reduce the flow area available,
and the flow velocity.

Based upon the design criteria used, the maximum flow in each barrel of the culvert from
Boulaq to Abu Rawash would be 443,500 m3/day, or a total of 887,000 m3/day. The

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maximum flow in each barrel of the Pyramids to Junction culvert would be 369,000 m3/day,
or a total of 738,000 m3/day.

Major Collectors
The basis of design for the major collectors, (Contracts 20A, 23A and 27) was the same as
that for the culverts, in that a build-up of detritus was assumed to occur to a depth of one-
tenth of the diameter of the pipe. Further, the collectors were sized to carry the projected peak
flows, based upon ultimate (saturation) populations tributary to the collectors.

Wastewater Service Area

Figure 5.10 shows the limits of the West Bank wastewater service area, as it will exist upon
the completion of all of the construction projects currently in progress, and expected to finish
in 1995.

At the time, wastewater collection services will be available to the residents of Embaba,
Mohandessin, Dokki, Zamalek, Road Island, Saft El Labban, all of the Pyramids Area west of
the Mariouteyah Drain, and Giza City, north of King Faisal Road to south of Pyramids Road,
as well as Monib and Tersa in the south, along with the villages of Ghatati, Kirdasa, Bani
Magdoul and Abu Rawash.

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5.4 Helwan Project

5.4.1 Background

The Helwan area is one of the industrial heartlands of Egypt, where a wide range of products,
from iron and steel to textiles, and from cars to chemicals are manufactured. Up to the
1960’s, Helwan itself was well-known principally as a spa resort. The pace of both industrial
and residential development since that time has been spectacular and has resulted in
increasing demands being made on the existing infrastructures, particularly on the sewers and
sewage treatment facilities. Therefore, the Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban
Communities have constructed a great general wastewater drainage project via an
Egyptian/German joint-venture under the leadership of Dorsch Consult, Munich, Germany.

The Helwan Waste Water Project (HWWP) covers the southern part of the Greater Cairo
Area from El-Maadi to about 30 km to the south via Toura, El Maasara, Helwan, El Tebeen to
El Menia and Shoubak as well as the city of 15th May and the planned residential
communities along the Autostrade. All the industries in the area such as the iron and steel
factory, the coke, coal and chemical factory and the cement and textile companies are also
connected to the system.

The first stage of the project has been planned to serve one million inhabitant equivalents with
350,000 m3 of effluent per day, while the second stage is to serve one and half million
inhabitants equivalents with an effluent 550,000 m3 per day.

As the treated sewage was planned to be used for irrigation, and as a suitable irrigation area
was available to the south of the proposed scheme, the main sewer was designed to flow from
north to south. Because the areas adjacent to the Corniche Road near the Nile are almost
level, there was no need for any lifting stations between the proposed sewer networks and the
main sewer. However, three lifting stations were required to overcome the fall over the 28
km length of the main sewer. In order to avoid difficulties in connection with land acquisition
and considering environmental aspects, the treatment plant, previously planned to be located
at the end of the main sewer, was relocated to a desert area further away from the River Nile.
This measure has required an additional pumping station and an additional pressure line.

The treatment plant was designed as a classical mechanical biological treatment plant using
activated sludge. The effluent was planned to be reused for irrigation purposes, serving an
area of 30,000 feddans that equal to 12,600 hectares in the final stage. To accommodate this
purpose, it was decided to construct El Saff irrigation canal to receive the treated effluent via
a balancing reservoir to permit also maintenance works of the canal to be carried out.

The main components of Helwan Wastewater Project (HWWP) are:

• The sewer networks of all towns on the River Nile east bank from the south of El
Maadi to Shoubak (except the new cities like 15th May) including the main branch
sewers.
• The main sewers from El Maadi alongside the River Nile to the pumping station No.
(1).
• The pumping station No. (1) and the pressure lines to the treatment plant.
• The treatment plant at Arab Abu Saed district with second stage capacity 550000
m3/day. The plant incorporates primary and secondary wastewater treatment as well
as sludge treatment.
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• The irrigation pumping station within the site of the treatment plant, the rising main
and the balancing reservoir with the outlet to El Saff irrigation canal.
• All electrical and non-processing ancillaries for O&M of the plant.

5.4.2 Existing Facilities

The main sewers, collecting all wastewater coming from domestic areas and industrial
complexes was designed as horseshoe or circular cast-in-situ or precast concrete culverts
beginning with internal diameter of 1.60 m at Maadi and ending with diameter of 3.40 m at
the pumping station south of the industrial area near Tebeen. Due to a special proposal,
offering some financial savings, two lengths were carried out by laying circular prefabricated
concrete pipes with concrete footings. The internal diameter of these pipes varied between
3.00 m and 3.40 m. The latter was smaller than the original design due to handling and
transport requirements, but the hydraulic recalculation allowed for the reduction of the section
area by 5%.

The protection of the internal surface of the concrete against air and sewage is PVC lining. It
was fixed to the in-situ constructed pipes by adhesive and to the prefabricated pipes by burls
running parallel to the pipes. The PVC liners were jointed by welding and the whole lining
has been tested for water tightness.

Presented in Table 5.2 is the updated expected hydraulic capacity from the different districts
at the year 2017. As shown in this table, the expected population is 2,274,011 capita while
the expected flow is 998,789 m3/day including industrial wastewater and springs surcharge.

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Table 5.2: Expected Hydraulic Capacities from the Different Districts of HWWP in the year 2017

Served Area Sewage Flow (l/c/d) Population (capita) Design Flow (m3/d)

Bassateen 295 244,045 71,995

Maadi 449 176,216 79,120
Emtedad Maadi 287 315,000 90,405
Tora 287 221,660 63,615
Maasara 287 158,712 45,550
Helwan 295 734,381 216,645
15th May 421 94,453 39,765
El-Tebeen 287 137,958 39,595
El-Saff 287 71,586 20,545
Desert Extension 287 120,000 34,440
Rohab PS --- --- 80,000
Industrial --- --- 140,800
PS (5) --- --- 55,296
Springs --- --- 21,018
Grand Total --- 2,274,011 998,789

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5.4.3 Future Plans

According to the technical revision and review of all elements and components and
according to the established constraints which include the following:
1. No land is available in the existing plant site for extension beyond the second
stage (capacity 550,000 m3/day)
2. It is difficult to construct another conveying system parallel to the existing one
3. It will take a very long time to obligate all factories to pre-treat their effluents
4. There is no near-future plan to reuse the surcharges of spring water
5. The Ministry of Irrigation has confirmed officially that they can not receive
more than 550,000 m3/day at Saff Canal
6. It is impossible to construct a gravity bypass for HWWTP except to the River
Nile

Therefore, it was concluded that there are no upgrades except to release the excess
flows out of the original project to be treated in a new separate treatment plant. The
excess flow involves all the untreated industrial wastewater (that should be pre-
treated) and/or springs surcharges besides domestic sewage.

The upgrade comprises a very effective suggestion based on the availability of in-
hand features that can be used for the upgrade. The suggestions include the following:
1. Releasing the excess flow of the existing pumping station (PS4) from
upstream culverts to a new pumping station (PS4A) in the neighborhood from
which a force main will convey this excess flow over the path of the
embanked El-Khashab canal to another new pumping station (PS3A)
2. Releasing the excess flow of the existing pumping station (PS3) as well as the
excess flow of the existing pumping station (PS2) from upstream culverts of
(PS3) to the new pumping station (PS3A) which will be constructed at a site in
Omar Ibn Abdel-Aziz street
3. Conveying the flow of the new pumping station (PS3A) to another new
pumping station (PS3B) located at a corner on Autostrad faces the south of
15th May city. This station could receive also the excess flow produced from
the city of 15th May.
4. Construction of an emergency bypass of the existing plant at Arab Abu Saed
from the existing pumping station (PS1) by constructing a new pumping
station (PS1A) in the neighborhood that can handle up all the capacity of the
existing plant for conveying to the new pumping station (PS3B)
5. The new pumping station (PS3B) conveys the excess flow as well as
emergency flow, if any, to the east across the east boundary to the desert
where a site will be chosen for the new east treatment plant that will be of
capacity to handle the excess flow of the project area and provided with a
round periphery bypass channel for the emergency flow of the existing
treatment plant.

The Capacity of the New Treatment Plant

The excess design flow produced from the project area is expected to reach about
450,000 m3/day by the year 2017. The excess flow is decided to be conveyed to the
east desert of the project area to be treated in a new treatment plant. On the other
hand, the existing treatment plant at Arab Abu Saed will be provided with a by-pass
pumping station (PS1A) at the neighborhood of the existing pumping station (PS1).
The by-pass pumping station will accommodate the total flow capacity of about

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550,000 m3/day of the existing treatment plant to the new treatment plant at times of
emergency. Accordingly, it is recommended to upgrade the capacity of the new
treatment plant to 1 million m3/day.

Different Alternatives of the New Treatment Plant

There are many alternatives of treatment systems that can be provided to design the
new east treatment plant. The most applicable system is activated sludge process that
is applied for the whole mega-capacity treatment plants in Egypt like Gabal Asfar,
Berka, and Zeneen plants. However, the other systems could be applied if it is
possible. For instance, ponding systems could be used if area and strict control are
available for such huge capacity.

The different treatment alternatives that can be reviewed for such new treatment plant:
1. Conventional Activate Sludge Process System
2. UASB (Anaerobic Sludge Bed) Reactor System
3. Oxidation Ponds System
4. Oxidation Ditch System
5. High-Rate Trickling Filter System
6. Chemical Precipitation System

On the other hand, the new plant will be provided with a by-pass channel connected to
the effluent channel of the treated sewage at the outlet of the new plant. The capacity
of this channel will also be 1 million m3/day. Both industrial and springs wastewater
should be pre-treated before reaching the treatment plant to comply with laws
regulating the discharge of wastewater to public sewers. This constrain would not be
considered, if a chemical precipitation system is used.

Updating the Existing Helwan Wastewater Treatment Plant

According to the masterplan of Helwan Wastewater Treatment Plant (HWWTP) since
early 1978, the Helwan Wastewater Treatment Plant at Arab Abu Saed has been
designed to receive pre-treated industrial effluents from the Helwan/Tebeen industrial
area that performs the major source of pollution in the River Nile. The Government of
Egypt (GOE), in the various financing agreements of the project, undertook the
responsibility of ensuring that the neighboring industries provided pre-treatment
facilities in a timely fashion so that they can be connected to the collection system.
Unfortunately, almost none of the required facilities are operational with the
consequence that it is not possible to allow most of these effluents to be discharged to
the public sewers. In addition, the population growth in the project area is greater than
expected, particularly since large areas of agricultural land have become urban
centers. Thus, the originally envisage mix of domestic and industrial wastewater has
changed in both quantity and quality. Reviews were made to assess the condition of
HWWTP; such reviews conclude that there is no comment on the original design of
the treatment plant, either regarding the target capacity (550,000 m3/day) or regarding
the maximum organic loading rate (95,516 kg BOD5/hour). What is required is to
restore the design operation conditions to original settings. This can be achieved by
obligating all the factories, without any exceptions, to pre-treat their effluents in
accordance with the Egyptian laws and regulations. The plant also has to be upgrade
to accommodate the excess flows of the year 2017. The sampling analysis of the
incoming raw wastewater to the plant and final effluent from the plant shows that the
plant is in need of rehabilitation and upgrading.

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5.5 Summary of Identified Bottlenecks

Analysis of current problems hindering the wastewater sector development in Greater Cairo
shows the following:

5.5.1 Environmental Issues

Discharges from WWTPs: The most remarkable environmental bottleneck is caused by

discharges from Abu Rawash WWTP, which represent almost two million inhabitants’
pollution load to the River Nile. This discharge point is most likely the biggest single
pollution point along the entire River Nile. In order to reduce pollution of the recipient at
least primary treatment at Abu Rawash should be extended as soon as possible. However,
primary treatment will not fulfill the treatment requirements stipulated by the law. Problems
requiring plant expansion are also found in Gabal El-Asfar and Helwan WWTP. Therefore, it
is recommended to establish a phased approach to gradually upgrade the WWTP(s). When
preparing this phased approach also sludge treatment and final disposal of sludge shall be
taken into account.

Residential areas not connected to sewerage systems: Another remarkable environmental

bottleneck is caused by residential areas connected to a water distribution system but not to
wastewater services. These areas are provided with septic tanks, which usually do not have
concrete bottoms and therefore sewage is infiltrated into ground water and the remaining
sludge is taken to canals and drains without any treatment. The total population living in this
type of residential areas is about 463,000. In order to reduce pollution caused by septic tanks
the construction of sewerage systems to these areas is considered urgent. This is clear in
villages like Shoubek in Helwan Project, and Bashteel, Tanash and Mutamadiya in West
Bank Project.

Insufficient capacity of wastewater collection system: In some areas of the sewerage

system the existing collectors do not have sufficient capacity to carry the sewage to WWTPs.
When adding the sand deposition problem to insufficient capacity or the poor condition of the
force main to transport the wastewater further a situation can occur where the wastewater is
flooding on the street. This will cause health risks to people living in these areas. Especially
in the Giza and Shoubra areas this type of collectors and force mains exist. There are certain
sewer sections, which will not keep in operation without almost daily maintenance. In order
to avoid flooding of wastewater to streets, extension of wastewater collectors and/or
rearrangement of the sewerage system have to be considered.

Connection of new housing areas to the wastewater system: New housing area has been
developed in the South Giza area of the West Bank Project (estimated population about
5,000) although the connection to the sewerage system has not yet been solved. CGOSD has
not given permission to this new housing area to be connected to the sewerage system
because it should be connected to a wastewater pumping station, which do not have sufficient
capacity to pump further the sewage and the force main of which already today caused serious
problems. Similar situations exist in areas in the East Bank and Helwan Projects.

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5.5.2 Operation and Maintenance Issues

Sewerage Systems

Lack of O&M database: In the sewerage system the biggest operation and maintenance
problems are caused by sand deposition into sewers, poor condition of force mains,
insufficient capacity of some collectors and lack of spare parts. Sand deposition into sewers
is a serious problem, which requires continuous maintenance of sewers. Partly the
maintenance equipment used by CGOSD is inefficient and old-fashioned slowing the
maintenance works and requiring more personnel. In case the sewer collector has at the same
time capacity problems the required cleaning frequency is shorter. As already mentioned in
Giza Square area maintenance of sewers is required almost each night. In order to create
better circumstances for reducing the maintenance problems it is recommended to establish a
database, in which all maintenance works and all deficiencies in the sewerage system will be
recorded. This data can in the future be used for preparation of annual replacement schemes
and longer-term development plans. Furthermore, the database can in the future be connected
to a GIS-system, which is also considered important because as-built maps are not or only few
of them are available. In order to reduce the maintenance works more efficient and modern
equipment is recommended to be purchases. As CGOSD does not have sufficient funds for
the replacement investments it is recommended to use the capital investment funds for
reconstruction of sewerage system.

Poor condition of force mains is a problem at many wastewater-pumping stations. Although

the pipe material used for force mains is usually ductile iron, the corrosion of it causes the
problems. Immediately when the cement lining in the ductile iron pipes is broken, the
corrosion starts and continues quite quickly. When the pipe will be broken there is not much
time to repair the force main before flooding of sewage starts. The suction chambers of the
pumping stations are provided with only a couple of hour capacity for emergency cases after
which flooding in the incoming sewers starts. The problem can be avoided either by
construction of a new force main or by connecting the pumping station with a gravity
collector to one of the major collectors. The feasibility of either case should be studied case
by case. Closing the pumping station would also bring energy savings.

Lack of spare parts is also considered as a problem. The sewage pumps used are in many
cases manufactured in Western Europe and CGOSD do not have enough fund for purchasing
spare parts to them. Therefore they have stored all the broken pumps and utilize those parts
of the pumps, which still are in operational condition.

5.5.3 Wastewater Treatment Plants

Some operational problems have been recognized in major WWTPs in Greater Cairo. These
problems are related to existing equipment, which is considered to represent old technology
and should be replaced with modern equipment simultaneously with the extension works.

Unsuitable sludge pumping facilities at Zenein WWTP: At Zenein WWTP, the most
serious operation problem is caused by the effluent sludge pumping station. The pumping
station is provided with four pumps and the pumps are used two in series to reach the
sufficient head needed. The excess sludge from the WWTP is discharged from the process
together with the primary sludge; however, due to the unsuitable sludge pumps, the primary
sludge has to be diluted to 0.5% TS. Although the sludge is diluted still the seals of the
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pumps are leaking causing maintenance problems. Furthermore, the pressure sewers from
Zenein to Abu Rawash (2 DN 500, 14 km) are badly corroded because of unfavourable soil
conditions. CGOSD has reserved LE30 million for replacement of the pipelines. Before the
final decision on the replacement is made, CGOSD will carry out pilot tests at Zenein WWTP
to dewater the sludge at the site. In case of successful test results, final comparison between
rehabilitation of pressure sewers and sludge pumping station and sludge dewatering at the site
will be made.

Energy savings and reduction of operation personnel could be obtained at both WWTPs by
provision of modern equipment, field instruments and automation. In case of Abu Rawash
WWTP these issues have to be taken into account when the WWTP will be extended but in
Zenein the feasibility of these actions should b calculated case by case.

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Donors Activities in the Wastewater Sector in Egypt 6-1

6. DONORS ACTIVITIES IN THE WASTEWATER

SECTOR IN EGYPT

6.1 Introduction
Donors rank Egypt as a lower middle-income country, with annual per capita
income in 2000 of US$ 1500 (€ 1286), according to the current exchange rate.
Since 1982 and up to the year 2001 a total amount of more than US$ 8.8 billion (€
7.5 billion) was invested by the donors group to improve and support the water
and wastewater sector in Egypt (Donor Assistance Group meeting –DAG- in
December 2001). To achieve 100% coverage of water and wastewater services by
2017 would require an additional estimated investment of US$ 19.2 billion (€
16.46 billion), of which US$ 4 billion (€ 3.43 billion) are needed urgently to
maintain current levels of service. The DAG meeting also concludes that donor
support in water and wastewater sector focuses on better and equitable access to
improved facilities, economic management and greater autonomy.

The major donor agencies operating in Egypt (chronologically ordered) are the
following (METAP Study: Wastewater Project for Cairo, by JAAKKO POYRY
INFRA, May 2002):
• African Development Fund
• Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
• Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA)
• Dutch International Development Agency (DGIS)
• European Investment Bank (EIB) / EU
• Finish International Development Agency (FINNIDA)
• French Government
• German International Development Agency (KfW and GTZ)
• Islamic Development Bank
• Japanese International Development Agency (JICA)
• Kuwait Fund
• Nordic Investment Bank
• Saudi Arabian Development Fund
• Spanish Government
• United States of America’s International Development
Agency (USAID)

The donors from the EU coordinate regularly their activities through holding bi-
monthly sub-committee meetings to revise and monitor the support to Egypt.

6.2 Spanish Government

According to Cairo Water Organization, the Spanish Government is willing to
provide a loan amounting to (€ 24.0 million) to increase the capacity of four

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existing screw-pumps in Cairo. The respective local investment will be LE 70

million.1

6.3 KfW and GTZ (Germany)

Since 1960 Germany is co-operating with the Egyptian Government in developing
the water and wastewater sector. More than € 200 millions have been used or
committed for technical assistance and investment projects. Recently, KfW and
GTZ have been focusing on the following projects:
• Water and wastewater project in Kafr El-Sheikh
• Wastewater disposal project in Alexandria, and
• A joint project with DANIDA for Qena Governorate,
financing is preconditioned by implementing sector reforms

6.4 French Government

The French Government is heavily involved in financing projects in the
wastewater sector through providing soft loans. For example Fr F 245 millions for
the eastern Cairo wastewater sector together with EIB, Fr F 215 billions in 1998
for wastewater sector in Alexandria together with EIB co-financing of € 30
millions, and financing opportunity up to € 50 millions for Abu Rawash treatment
system is under consideration.

6.5 DANIDA (Denmark)

Since 1980, DANIDA is supporting water supply and sanitation sector in Egypt.
DANIDA strategy is to improve level of service in rural areas, small towns and
provincial cities in Aswan and Qena governorates of Upper Egypt. The completed
projects, financed by DANIDA, are:
• Aswan water authority project, DKK 34 millions;
• Water supply and sanitation project in Esna (Qena
governorate), DKK 180 millions, 50% mixed credit and 50%
Government of Egypt
• Edfu water supply and sanitary drainage project, DKK 223.5
millions

In March 2001, the protocol for the cooperation program in the coming 7 years
was signed between Egypt and DANIDA, focusing on supporting the following:
• National sector reform & capacity development, DKK 15
millions for preparation and DKK 17 millions for phase 1
• Aswan water supply and sanitation, DKK 205 millions,
DANIDA 60%, GOE 31%, and consumers 9%
• Qena water supply and sanitation, DKK 368 millions,
DANIDA grant is 63%, GOE is 29%, and consumers 8%

1
Donor Assistance Group meeting –DAG- December 2001
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The addendum to Memorandum of Understanding specified at that time certain

preconditions for the approval by the Government of Denmark of the above
prescribed program. It seems that the Egyptian side failed to satisfy these
preconditions and accordingly DANIDA has taken the decision to phase out grant
support to Egypt.

6.6 DGIS (the Netherlands)

The Dutch government decided to withdraw from bilateral development
cooperation with Egypt by the end of 2004. The reason is that the Dutch prefer to
concentrate their development aid on the poorest developing countries. However,
the following three major projects for the water and wastewater sector in Egypt
were considered for financing by DGIS during the last few years:
• Alexandria O&M project
• Fayoum drinking water supply and sanitation project, and
• Fayoum treatment plant project.

6.7 FINNIDA (Finland)

Since 1989, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland supports the water and
wastewater sector in Egypt. The following are examples of the main projects
completed by FINNIDA:
- Badr City water treatment plant project, € 16.8 millions (completed 1996);
- Ras El Bar wastewater treatment plant project, € 7.6 millions (completed
1995); and
- Sharm El Sheikh Desalination plant Project, € 2.8 millions (completed
1994); and
- Beni Suef regional water supply and sanitation project, € 11 million
(completed 2002).

6.8 USAID (U.S.A.)

Since 1975, USAID has invested more than US$ 2.6 billion (€ 2.23 billion) in the
urban water and wastewater infrastructure in Egypt. The assistance initially
targeted emergency provision of sewerage system to alleviate flooding in Cairo
and Alexandria and to replace and rehabilitate war damaged services in the canal
cities of Port Said, Suez, and Ismailiya. Since the early 1990’s the focus of its
investment shifted to relatively smaller under-served urban centers in the Delta,
South Sinai, Middle and Upper Egypt while placing increased emphasis on the
institutional development of local utilities. The following paragraphs provide
synopses on some of the projects implemented by the USAID throughout Egypt.

6.8.1 Cairo Sewerage (1979 – 2002)

The enormous pressures of a burgeoning population coupled with the lack of
proper maintenance contributed to the deterioration of Cairo’s wastewater system.
Backed-up sewers and overflowing sewerage vaults were frequent occurrences in

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Cairo’s poorer (and not so poor) neighborhoods as well as outbreaks of cholera

attributed to sewerage contamination of the water supply. Beginning in 1979,
British, U.S., and the Government of Egypt financing were dedicated to upgrading
and expanding Cairo’s wastewater system. The USAID financed-program
originally involved major projects on both sides of the Nile, but it concentrated on
the West Bank. Since the completion of the first phase in 1986, Cairo has not
experienced a major sewerage-flooding incident due to system failure.

The Cairo sewerage project was designed to improve and ensure proper
arrangement of the wastewater collection and treatment systems on Cairo’s West
Bank in addition to operations and maintenance technical assistance. USAID
provided technical and capital technical assistance to the Cairo General
Organization for Sanitary Drainage (CGOSD) (currently: Cairo Wastewater
Company) under four components described below. Installation of sewerage
networks and removal of high groundwater table were implemented in Old Cairo
area. This groundwater problem presented a health hazard and threatened religious
monuments in the area.

Engineering, Technical Studies, Design, and Supervision of Construction

Services:
The project consisted of 2 types of construction contracts: major facilities and
unsewered areas. In total, there were 16 contracts for un-sewered areas. The major
facilities consisted of: a collection system in Imbaba, Mohandesseen, and Dokki
areas; a conveyance system to the Abu-Rawash wastewater treatment plant; a
collection system in the Pyramids area; and rehabilitation of and a conveyance
system to the Zenein treatment plant.

All of the major facilities were completed and handed over to the Government of
Egypt (GOE) by the end of FY 1996

The unsewered areas program completed in 1998, funded sewer service and house
connections in low-income west bank neighborhoods. The 62 contracts, totaling
L.E. 338.7 million, funded construction of about 500 km of sewer lines, 25,000
manholes, 74,000 connection chambers, 568 km of service connections and
training of 290 local engineers in sewerage system design and construction
inspection

Operation and Maintenance Training and Support Program

The main elements of this program, which was completed in 1996, included the
establishment of a training center at the Zenein WWTP, training on wastewater
treatment operations, facility maintenance and operations, and preparation of a
worker’s safety program.

Institutional Development Program

This program, completed in 1998, provided institutional support services to
CGOSD in technical O&M, automation, training, financial and personnel
administration, procurement, safety practices and procedures, performance
management and stores and inventory management.

Amendment to support groundwater and sewage control in Old Cairo

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In 1998, the project was extended to support initiatives that would protect several
ancient, culturally significant religious monuments and improve infrastructure and
services for about 140,000 residents of Old Cairo. This included that construction
of gravity sewer lines and house connections in poor areas of Old Cairo and the
installation of perforated pipes (drain line network) to lower the groundwater table
that threatens the structural integrity of the sites themselves.

6.8.2 Alexandria Wastewater System Expansion (1978-2004)

Since 1978, USAID has supported improvements in wastewater collection,
pumping, treatment, and disposal in Alexandria, investing US $ 425 million
through the Alexandria Wastewater System Expansion I project. USAID-financed
infrastructure has eliminated sewage flooding from the streets and diverted most
untreated sewage that formerly contaminated the Mediterranean Sea and its
beaches. Waterborne disease and infant mortality rates have been significantly
reduced as a result of this program and improved health services. With USAID
assistance, the AGOSD has installed 211 kilometers of sewers, six major pumping
stations, and two state-of-the-art primary treatment plants east and west of the
city, and a sludge dewatering and disposal facility.

In 1997, the second phase of the project “Alexandria Wastewater System

Expansion II” provided for increased access to and sustainability of wastewater
services in Alexandria through construction and institutional activities. In
cooperation with the Alexandria General Organization for Sanitary Drainage
(AGOSD), USAID financed the design, construction, and operation of sewerage
collection and primary treatment systems for approximately 75 percent of the city.

With the Alexandria II program, AGOSD gained organizational, financial control,

and strengthened operational and maintenance systems, in addition to expanding
primary treatment capabilities to meet projected demand until the year 2010 The
latter will enable AGOSD to close the last remaining outlet discharging raw
sewage into the Mediterranean.

6.8.3 Provincial Cities Development (1982-1997)

The project aimed at improving the water and wastewater services in the three
provincial cities of Fayoum, Beni-Suef and Minya. The total USAID funding of
the project reached $ 104 million

6.8.4 Canal Cities Water and Wastewater II (1987-1999)

The project provided sustainable water and wastewater services in the canal cities
of Port Said, Ismailia, and Suez through construction of new wastewater facilities,
expansion of water supply facilities. The total USAID funding of the project
reached $ 380 million .

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Donors Activities in the Wastewater Sector in Egypt 6-6

6.8.5 Secondary Cities Development (1994-2004)

USAID assisted water and wastewater utilities in three governorates (Daqahliya,
South Sinai, Aswan) and in Luxor city to transform from subsidized government
operations to financially viable enterprises that can promote sustainable services.
The project includes assistance to identify and implement reforms necessary for
local water/wastewater authorities to achieve institutional autonomy and financial
viability, and assistance to design and construct water/wastewater infrastructure to
meet growing customer needs.

The Secondary Cities project was designed to address the need to provide water
and wastewater services to meet growing demand and to enhance the autonomy of
local institutions and ensure the sustainability of existing and new water and
wastewater infrastructure.

In response to this challenge, USAID initiated a program of capital technical

assistance to ensure that the expanded and/or rehabilitated water and wastewater
facilities are operated and maintained at design levels and to assist the entities
responsible for operation and maintenance of the facilities to operate
autonomously and recover their costs.

6.8.6 Egypt Utilities Management (1997-2005)

The project aimed at assisting Economic General Authorities in Fayoum, Beni-
Suef, and Minya to become sustainable utilities and to expand the water and
wastewater service delivery areas in the Middle Egypt Governorates. The project
comprised three programs: the first was based on a previous USAID support in
Middle Egypt under the Provincial Cities Development Project; the other two
were new. Description of the three programs are set forth below.

National-Level Sector Policy Reform: USAID policy dialogue with the Ministry
of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities on the need for a shift in the role of
central government from water and wastewater (W/WW) service provider to a
regulator and facilitator of services led to the development of a draft
concession/regulation law that authorizes creation of a W/WW regulatory agency
and repeals restrictions on private sector participation. Two pre-feasibility studies
for a five-year $8 million management contract for water/wastewater facilities in
Sixth of October/Sheikh Zayed new communities, and a 30-year $60 million
Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) agreement to finance new water supply
facilities in Southern Beheira Governorate were completed. Four tariff rate case
studies were initiated and completed by June 2002. A debt restructuring study
was, also, completed. And finally, guidance on tariff reform and private sector
participation, prepared under the program, was disseminated to local utilities
through a second, year-long Development Training 2 (DT2)-funded national
training program, which began in April 2002.

Middle Egypt Utilities: USAID assisted the Economic General Authorities for
Water Supply and Sanitary Drainage in Fayoum, Beni Suef and Minya to
complete the transition from subsidized service providers to autonomous public
enterprise capable of meeting customer needs. The program combined
institutional development with master planning, a large-scale construction
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Donors Activities in the Wastewater Sector in Egypt 6-7

program, and a new USAID-financed village environmental assistance program

implemented by UNICEF. Capital investments were concentrated on wastewater
treatment facilities in Beni Suef and Fayoum and a water treatment plant in
Minya. The UNICEF initiative promoted an integrated approach involving
community participation, construction of appropriate technology solutions, as well
as hygiene education and environmental awareness campaigns. The EUM
program was builts upon previous USAID support in Middle Egypt under the
Provincial Cities Development Project that financed infrastructure in each
provincial capital city.

Alexandria Water General Authority: While USAID has invested over $600
million in Alexandria to construct two new wastewater treatment plants and
expand sewage collection networks throughout the city; the current program is the
first USAID assistance program for the Alexandria utility responsible for water
supply services. The current program also combines institutional strengthening
activities with master planning and construction. Investments are concentrated on
network expansions and system improvements in existing treatment plants.

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7. Recommended Projects for Funding by JBIC
Policy Recommendations for JBIC 7-1

7. POLICY RECOMMENDATION FOR JBIC

The recommendation in this report was prepared by Chemonics Egypt and does not
represent any opinion and decision of JBIC and the Egyptian government authorities.

The following recommendations are made for JBIC on the possibility of cooperation
to develop and upgrade the sewerage sector in Egypt, with particular emphasis on
Greater Cairo.

7.1 Institutional Programs

• Fund the governorates in Egypt for conversion of the water and wastewater
authorities into water and wastewater companies and integrate them with
the Holding company of Water and Wastewater (HCWW).
• Provide financial assistance to the HCWW to improve their facilities to
manage the wastewater sector and support its programs for the
development and operation of the wastewater projects nationwide.

7.2 Sanitation Programs

• Fund the sanitation projects of the unserved and deprived area of the
regionalized city and village sanitation as well as rural village sanitation.
• Participate in the P3 (public private participation) program and the BOT
(Build, operate, and transfer) program in association with international
water companies.

7.3 Recommended Programs in Greater Cairo

• Finance and strengthen the institutional set-up of the Organization for

Execution of the Greater Cairo and Alexandria Potable Water and
Wastewater Projects (CAPWO) to be able to implement proper solutions
for the bottlenecks of the wastewater system. This could be accomplished
by providing both financial and technical assistance to CAPWO.
• Participate in financing the expansion and upgrading of the Abu Rawash
and Helwan WWTPs.
• Participate in financing the expansion of overloaded major wastewater
pumping stations.
• Provide the necessary funds for the development of water reuse program
for Greater Cairo that includes effluent quality improvement, effluent
storage and irrigation system.

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7.4 Additional Recommended Programs (Alexandria)

• Participate in financing and implementation of the expansion and

upgrading program of WWTPs (East and West) in Alexandria.
• Provide the necessary funds to implement the mitigation measures to
combat pollution of the Lake Mariout.
• Participate in funding wastewater projects for the unserved areas of El-
Agami and El-Max in Alexandria.

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Project Fact Sheet No. 1

Project Title: Ameriya Pumping Station, Second Stage Main Conveyance System, East
Bank Wastewater Project.

Location: El-Ameriya, Shoubra, North East of Greater Cairo

Description:

1. Population Served: 2 million persons

2. Additional capacity provided: 480,000 m3/d
3. Installation of pumping units to increase the station’s capacity from 1.7
to 2.18 Mm3/d
4. Construction of a main collector “tunnel” from El-Ameria to El-Khosos
pumping stations.

Components: Lift pumps, sump, tunnel, and box culvert.

Cost Estimate:

Total Cost = Euro 38 M

Foreign Component
Required for Funding = Euro 28 M

Justification:

• To match the increasing population needs of the

most congested area of Greater Cairo.
• To deliver the additional capacity of wastewater
(from current 1.7 Mm3/d to future 2.18 Mm3/d)
to the expanded Gabal El-Asfar wastewater
treatment plant.
• To prevent flooding of the sanitary drainage
system in the area.

Priority Rank: 1

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Project Fact Sheet No. 2

Project Title: Third Stage of Expansion of Gabal El-Asfar Wastewater Treatment Plant,
East Bank Wastewater Project.

Location: Gabal El-Asfar, Khanka Markaz El-Kalyoubia Governorate, North East of

Greater Cairo.

Description:

1. Population Served: 2 million persons

2. Additional capacity provided: 500,000 m3/d (to increase plant capacity
to 3.2 million m3/d)
3. Plant Area allocated for Expansion: 125 feddan (525,000 m2) out of a 2
million m2 total plant area.
4. Construction of additional stage of biological wastewater treatment.
5. Construction of additional sludge treatment facilities.

Components: Inlet pumping station, distribution chambers, screens, grit removal tanks,
primary sedimentation tanks, aeration tanks, secondary sedimentation tanks,
emergency bypass, chlorine tanks, sludge thickening tanks, anaerobic sludge
digestion tanks, mechanical dewatering units, dual fuel system, digester gas
holders, and service buildings.

Cost Estimate:

Total Cost = LE 1200 million

Foreign Component
Required for Funding = Euro 100 million

Justification:

• To match the increasing population needs of the most congested area of

Greater Cairo.
• To cope with the requirement of environmental laws and provide treated
effluent for reuse.
• To protect the public health and the environment.
• The plant is one of the main components of the Greater Cairo wastewater
project.

Priority Rank: 2

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Project Fact Sheet No. 3

Project Title: Second Stage of Expansion of Abu Rawash Wastewater Treatment Plant,
West Bank Wastewater Project.

Location: Abu Rawash, North West of Greater Cairo at the 24th km East of
Cairo/Alexandria Desert Road.

Description:

1. Population Served: 4 million persons

2. Additional capacity provided: 800,000 m3/d
3. Total area of plant including expansion is 520 feddan (2,184,000 m2).
4. Construction of additional primary treatment facilities for wastewater.
5. Construction of additional treatment facilities for sludge.

Components: Pumping station, emergency by-pass channel, screens, grit removal tanks,
primary sedimentation tanks, chlorination tanks, sludge thickeners, sludge
lagoons.

Cost Estimate:

Total Cost = LE 700 M

Foreign Component
Required for Funding = Euro 50 M

Justification:

To improve effluent quality being discharged since the plant is

considered the biggest single pollution point along the River Nile.
To prevent current discharges of huge quantities of untreated wastewater
being by-passed from the overloaded plant.
To match the population increase with possible reuse of effluent in forest
irrigation.
To provide facilities for sludge treatment and possible pumping of
sludge to desert lagoon disposal site for further development of end-product at the disposal
site.

Priority Rank: 3

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Project Fact Sheet No. 4

Project Title: Expansion of Helwan Wastewater Treatment Plant, Helwan Project

Location: Arab-Abu-Saeed, Helwan, South of Greater Cairo

Description:
Population served: 2 million persons
Additional capacity provided: 200,000 m3/d
Plant area allocated for expansion will be in the desert
Construction of facilities for primary and secondary treatment
Construction of facilities for sludge treatment

Components: Inlet pumping station, distribution chambers, screens, grit removal tanks,
primary sedimentation tanks, aeration tanks, secondary sedimentation tanks,
emergency bypass, chlorine tanks, sludge drying beds, irrigation pumping
station

Cost Estimate:

Total Cost = LE 580 M

Foreign Component
Required for Funding = Euro 50 M

Justification:

. To match the increasing population needs of a heavily industrialized

area
. To cope with the requirement of environmental laws and provide
effluent for reuse in irrigation
. To protect the public health and the environment
. The plant is one of the main components of the Greater Cairo
Wastewater Project

Priority Rank: 4

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Additional Projects

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 Recommended Projects for Funding by JBIC 7-8

Project Fact Sheet No. 5

Project Title: Expansion of the Western Wastewater Treatment Plant in Alexandria

Governorate

Location: Karmooz District, Alexandria Governorate

Description:
1. Population served: 2 million persons
2. Additional capacity provided: 338,000 m3/d of
primary treatment and 800,000 m3/d of secondary
treatment
3. Area allocated for expansion: 46 feddan (190,000
m2 )
4. Construction of additional primary and secondary
treatment facilities for wastewater
5. Construction of additional facilities for sludge
treatment and drying

Components: Pumping station, screens, grit removal tanks, primary sedimentation tanks,
aeration tanks, secondary sedimentation tanks, chlorination tanks, and sludge
pumping.

Cost Estimate:

Total Cost = LE 1400 M

Foreign Component
Required for Funding = Euro 100 M

Justification:

• To match the population needs

• To cope with the requirements of environmental law
• To protect the public health and environment in a
heavily polluted area

Priority Rank: 1

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Project Fact Sheet No. 6

Project Title: Expansion of the Eastern Wastewater Treatment Plant in Alexandria

Governorate

Location: Abees District, Alexandria Governorate

Description:
1. Population Served: 2 million persons
2. Additional capacity provided: 193,000 m3/d
(primary treatment) and 800,000 m3/d secondary
treatment
3. Area allocated for expansion: 23 feddan (95,000 m2)
4. Construction of additional primary and secondary
treatment facilities for wastewater

Components: Pumping station, screens, grit removal tanks, primary sedimentation tanks,
aeration tanks, secondary sedimentation tanks, chlorination tanks and sludge
pumping

Cost Estimate:

Total Cost = LE 1200 M

Foreign Component
Required for Funding = Euro 90 M

Justification:

1. To improve effluent quality being discharged since

the plant is considered the biggest single pollution
point along the River Nile.
2. To prevent current discharges of huge quantities of
untreated wastewater being by-passed from the
overloaded plant.
3. To match the population increase with possible reuse
of effluent in forest irrigation.
4. To provide facilities for sludge treatment and
possible pumping of sludge to desert lagoon disposal
site for further development of end-product at the
disposal site.

Priority Rank: 2

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Table 7.1: Recommended Projects for Funding by JBIC in Greater Cairo

Cost Estimates
Rank Project Location Justification Total Cost Required
Foreign Funding
1 Ameria Pumping Station, El Ameria, North To increase the capacity of the pumping
Second Stage Main East of Greater station from 1.7 Mm3/d to 2.18 Mm3/d as to
Conveyance System, East Cairo deliver the required capacity to the Gabl El- Euro 38 M Euro 28 M
Bank Wastewater Project Asfar WWTP after expansion, in order to
cope with the population increase.
2 Third Stage Expansion of Gabl El-Asfar To increase the capacity of Gabal El-Asfar LE 1200 M Euro 100 M
Gabal El-Asfar Wastewater North East of WWTP by 0.5 Mm3/d to match the
Treatment Plant – East Bank Greater Cairo, population needs, cope with environmental
Wastewater Project Khanka Markaz laws, and protect the public health and
environment. This includes facilities for
secondary biological treatment of
wastewater and for sludge treatment.
3 Second Stage Expansion of Abu Rawash, North To increase the capacity of Abu Rawash LE 700 M Euro 50 M
Abu Rawash Wastewater West of Greater WWTP by 0.8 Mm3/d to match the
Treatment Plant – West Bank Cairo, 20 km East population needs. This includes facilities
Wastewater Project of Cairo/Alexandria for primary treatment of wastewater and for
Desert Road sludge disposal.
4 Expansion of Helwan Helwan, South East To increase the capacity of Helwan WWTP
Wastewater Treatment Plant, of Greater Cairo by 0.41 Mm3/d to match the population
Updating of Master Plan, needs, cope with environmental laws and
Helwan Project protect the public health and environment.
LE 580 M Euro 50 M
This includes transfer to a new desert
location and construction of facilities for
secondary biological treatment and for
sludge treatment.

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Table 7.2: Additional Projects in Alexandria

Cost Estimates
Rank Project Location Justification Total Cost Required
Foreign Funding
1 Expansion of the Eastern Abees, To construct additional primary facilities of
Wastewater Treatment Plant in Alexandria capacity 0.6 Mm3/d and secondary facilities
Alexandria Governorate of 0.8 Mm3/d. This is required to match the
LE 1200 M Euro 90 M
population needs, cope with environmental
laws, and protect the public health and
environment.
2 Expansion of the Western Karmooz, To construct additional primary treatment LE 1400 M Euro 100 M
Wastewater Treatment Plant in Alexandria facilities of capacity 0.338 Mm3/d and
Alexandria Governorate secondary treatment facilities of 0.8 Mm3/d.
This is required to match the population
needs, cope with environmental laws, and
protect the public health and environment.

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Annex (A): The Environmental Law No. 4/1994
Annex (B): Law No. 48/1982