Water Scarcity

2022
Water Scarcity in Egypt

ECON 3054 – 02 DR. ABEER EL SHINNAWY
HAILEY KURTH
Introduction:
Water scarcity is a growing problem around the world, so it is important to define what it
is: “water scarcity means scarcity in availability due to a physical shortage of water or scarcity in
access due to the failure of institutions to ensure a regular supply or due to a lack of
infrastructure” (UN-Water). When looking at the background of Egypt’s water consumption it
must be taken into consideration there has been different figures reported, so the most recent
numbers will be referred to. Egypt’s water consumption is between 110-115 billion cubic meters
(BCM) per year and receives only 55.5 BCM per year from, Egypt’s only freshwater source, the
Nile. Recent estimates conclude that Egypt’s current water supply is 560m3 per person per year
(Goodman, 2021). It’s also estimated that by 2025 Egypt’s water resources will drop to below
500m3 per person per year, which is defined as absolute water scarcity (Cohen, 2021). Egypt only
has 80 million cubic meters of water resources, so Egypt is facing an estimated water deficit of
around 30 million cubic meters (Aziz, 2020). What are the key issues that are contributing to
water scarcity, and is desalination a viable solution to Egypt’s water crisis?
Literature Review:
The first source used was published in January of 2020 by Mahmoud Aziz. This is an in-
depth investigative article of Egypt’s water crisis published on Ahram Online. Aziz examines
causes of water scarcity, and then further examines possible different solutions. He interviews
two water experts who give their educated opinion on potential solutions, and data/information
from Egyptian politicians as well.
The second source used was published in August of 2020 on EcoMENA, an initiative
focused on promoting sustainability in the MENA region. Amir Dakkak breaks down the four
different causes of water scarcity in Egypt: population, irrigation, pollution, and the GERD.
The third source used was published in June of 2021 in the Atlantic Council by Yaniv
Cohen where he evaluates the causes and negative side effects of water scarcity in Egypt. He
examines the causes, and then provides details on how these problems affect food security,
health, and national security. He details policies in place and his own policy recommendations.
The fourth source used was published by Eilora Goodman in 2021 for the Tahrir Institute
of Middle East Policy. Her analysis provides details into Egypt’s water deficit and how,
specifically, climate change is contributing. She also analyzes different efforts being made by
sources other than the government to mitigate this issue and provides her criticisms as well.
Background:
There are three main causes that contribute to this problem in Egypt: population growth,
agriculture/irrigation systems, and pollution/climate change. Population is a factor because it
stresses Egypt’s water supply due to increased domestic consumption of water and use of
irrigation from larger demands for food. Egypt’s population has increased 41% since the 1990’s,
and now has reached over 100 million people and is expected to reach 110 million people by
2025 (Dakkak, 2022). Agriculture contributes heavily to the problem of water scarcity because
many farmers in Egypt still use flood irrigation and have not adopted new irrigation practices.
The agricultural sector “consumes 86 percent of Egypt’s freshwater withdrawals,” but only
accounts for 11 percent of Egypt’s GDP (Cohen, 2021). Many farmers have lost crops because
much of the water used in irrigating land is full of pesticides and other harmful chemicals that
have runoff into the Nile. This is one of the reasons that pollution of the Nile affects water
supply. Pollution, especially in the Nile, further depletes Egypt’s supply because it makes the
unsafe to drink or use. Climate change affects water security due to the rising temperatures. This
is a problem because it causes water to evaporate at a higher rate. Lake Nasser, a valuable source
of hydropower and freshwater in Egypt, has recently seen an increase in evaporation (Aziz,
2020). The Aswan high dam, where most of Egypt’s irrigation network draws from, has been
estimated to lose up to 3 BCM of Nile water per year due to evaporation (Dakkak, 2022).
Fieldwork:
Based on the information I collected from my research, I conducted a survey with thirty-
five people to gauge their knowledge of Egypt’s limited water supply. It is clear (see Appendix
(A)) it is not common knowledge that Egypt is currently in a water deficit. The last official
recorded number of Egypt’s water by the United Nations was 7 BCM in 2017 but is now
estimated to be closer to 30 billion. It is indicative (see Appendix (B) and (C)) that even if people
know there is a problem the severity is unknown. However, there is an awareness around the
causes of scarcity (see Appendix (D)) since the responses were relatively evenly distributed. I
found the results interesting (see Appendix (E)) because many people chose the options Egypt
has already focused significant efforts on, and only one person chose investing in desalination
plants, and from what I found in my research, could be Egypt's best solution for mitigation.
Policy Recommendations:
My policy recommendation is for Egypt to continue to focus effort to desalination plants.
Desalination is the process of converting seawater into freshwater. Through my research, I found
that desalination is considered “one of the best, most effective, and quickest way for Egypt to
overcome its current water shortage” (Aziz, 2020). Desalination is currently only 0.1% of
Egypt’s available water resources (Aziz, 2020). However, the downside to this process is that it
is very expensive compared to other options. Currently, Egypt is investing 2.8 billion dollars into
increasing the capacity of desalination plants and constructing 19 additional desalination plants
for around 7.9 billion LE (Cohen). There are currently 63 desalination plants in located in coastal
cities with a total combined capacity of 800,000 m3 per day (Aziz, 2020). I believe this is a good
option because there is more water available from the seas surrounding Egypt than the Nile, and
with the completion of the dam in Ethiopia Egypt's Nile supply is at risk.
In conclusion, Egypt needs to act quickly to find and create additional sources of water,
especially with their current share of the Nile at risk, to keep up with the growing economy and
population. This is a critical issue with many negative consequences for not only the population
of Egypt but its economy as well.

Works Cited
Aziz, M. (2020) “Egypt's Water Challenges: Beyond the Dam Saga - Politics - Egypt.” Ahram
Online, https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/359272/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-
water-challenges-Beyond-the-dam-saga-.aspx.
Cohen, Y. (2021). “Egypt Has a Water Problem-and No, It's Not Only the Gerd.” Atlantic
Council, Atlantic Council, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/egypt-has-a-
water-problem-and-no-its-not-only-the-gerd/.
Dakkak, A. (2022). “Water Crisis in Egypt.” EcoMENA, https://www.ecomena.org/egypt-water/.
Goodman, E. (2021). “Dual Threats: Water Scarcity and Rising Sea Levels in Egypt.” TIMEP,
The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, https://timep.org/explainers/dual-threats-water-
scarcity-and-rising-sea-levels-in-egypt/.
UN-Water. “Scarcity: UN-Water.” UN, United Nations,
https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/scarcity/.
Appendix
Figures and Graphs

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)

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2022

Water Scarcity in Egypt

infrastructure” (UN-Water). When looking at the background of Egypt’s water consumption it

water scarcity, and is desalination a viable solution to Egypt’s water crisis?

from Egyptian politicians as well.

agriculture/irrigation systems, and pollution/climate change. Population is a factor because it

My policy recommendation is for Egypt to continue to focus effort to desalination plants.

of Egypt but its economy as well.

Council, Atlantic Council, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/egypt-has-a-

Dakkak, A. (2022). “Water Crisis in Egypt.” EcoMENA, https://www.ecomena.org/egypt-water/.

The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, https://timep.org/explainers/dual-threats-water-

UN-Water. “Scarcity: UN-Water.” UN, United Nations,

Figures and Graphs

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