Egypt when is examined as a single and concrete geographic entity; does not appear to face water shortage problems. The governorates that are beside the Nile River do not have water shortage problems. However, some areas are identified as having a crucial situation regarding water supply. These areas are in Sinai, Red Sea coast and Northern Desert coast. The economic development in these areas is basically based on water availability.

Water Quality Status of the River Nile from Aswan to Cairo

Since the construction of the High Aswan Dam, the water quality of the Nile became primarily dependent on the water quality and ecosystem characteristics of Lake Nasser reservoir and less dependent on the water quality of the upper reaches of the Nile.

The total distance from the High Aswan Dam to Delta Barrage is about 950 km. In this reach, about 67 drains enter the Nile either directly or indirectly discharging about 4.7 billion m³/yr of agricultural drainage water containing salt, nutrients, pesticides, and municipal effluents from all towns and villages of Upper Egypt into the Nile. In addition, 40 industries discharge directly to the Nile, which represent high loads of organic matter, oil and grease, heavy metals and toxic chemicals.

Around the Greater Cairo area, the situation seems somewhat more critical. There are 23 chemical industries, 27 textile and spinning industries, 7 steel and galvanizing industries, 32 food processing industries, 29 engineering industries, 9 mining and refraction industries. There is a considerable wastewater emission from these contaminating industries, partly to the Nile, but mostly to the drainage canals. This degradation should be considered as a signal that preventive measures are necessary to stop a further deterioration of this vital water source.

Water Quality Status of Damietta and Rosetta Branches

Deterioration in water quality of the two branches does occur in a northward direction due to disposal of municipal and industrial effluents and agricultural drainage as well as decreasing flows.

The Damietta branch receives nutrients, organic loads, and oil and grease as a result of discharges through Talkha fertilizer industry as well as drainage water from a number of drains especially near Faraskour dam.

The Rosetta branch receives high oil and grease concentrations, nutrients, organic loads, and solids through Muheet and Rahawy drains that receive large parts of the wastewater of Cairo as well as some pesticides and toxi-chemicals from Kafr El-Zayat industrial area, in addition to salts and herbicides residues from the agricultural drains.

Water Quality Status of Irrigation Canals and Drains

Most of the drainage water from the Nile Valley (Upper Egypt) flows back by gravity to the Nile as return flow. It is estimated as about 2.3 billion m³ annually. This slightly affects the quality of the Nile water from Aswan to Cairo. In the Nile Delta, the drainage system is rather intensive and the drainage water is discharged into the northern lakes or the Mediterranean Sea.

In the southern part of the Delta, drainage water salinity ranges between 750 and 1000 mg/l, while in the middle part, salinity may reach 2000 mg/l because of soil salinity and some influence of saline groundwater. In the northern part of the Delta, drain water salinity reaches values ranging between 3500 and 6000 mg/l.

Water Quality Status of Coastal & Inland Lakes

The main coastal lakes Mariut, Idku, Burullus and Manzala are separated from the Mediterranean Sea by narrow splits and are not more than 2 m deep. The lakes are used for fishery and fish farming. The lakes receive the drainage water from the Nile Delta and major inputs of municipal and industrial wastes from Cairo, Alexandria and other cities.

Lake Mariut receives agricultural drainage and domestic and industrial wastewater from 5 agricultural drains, in addition to direct discharges from 40 industrial plants. Lake Manzala serves as a depository for much of the municipal and agricultural wastewater of Eastern Delta, including the wastewater of most of Cairo. Lake Mariut and Lake Manzala were identified as the most alarming examples of water pollution in Egypt and were ranked number one and two black spots respectively.

Lake Qarun in Fayoum Governorate receives agricultural drainage and domestic wastewater of Fayoum. The lake suffers from continuous rise of its level and increasing salinity. Records show that the lake levels are continuing to rise at 0.1 m per year and salinity rising at 0.5 g/l each year.