One million people in around 600 villages in the Fayoum governorate will benefit from a project that aims to expand wastewater treatment services in the governorate which is located 100 km southwest of Cairo.  

The project aims to improve wastewater management and generate high-quality recycled water to irrigate non-fruit bearing trees.

The Fayoum wastewater project aligns with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and contributes to sustainable water and wastewater services, according to Ayman Ayad, water and social infrastructure programme manager at the EU Delegation to Egypt.

The project is an investment programme focused on building and expanding wastewater collection and treatment facilities around Lake Qaroun in Fayoum by reducing pollution in a body of water that represents an important natural landmark with significant historical and natural importance.

It will also bring sewerage infrastructure to rural communities for the first time, improving living conditions and public health through better sanitation infrastructure.

Wastewater treatment services in Fayoum are presently limited, with only about 45 per cent of households connected to a central sewerage system, mostly in urban areas. Other households rely on septic tanks, many of which are poorly maintained or non-existent.

The project will provide sewerage networks to 83 disadvantaged villages by establishing eight new treatment plants, expanding existing treatment plants, and rehabilitating 10 existing treatment plants.

With over 30 per cent of the local population living in poverty, the project also creates much-needed jobs and helps to reduce unemployment by offering 24,000 job opportunities during the planning and construction phase and 1,500 permanent jobs during the operations phase.

The project, implemented by the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater in Fayoum, will be complete by 2026. It will have an indirect effect on stimulating regional economic activities, such as agriculture, fishing, and tourism, which have suffered due to pollution from untreated wastewater.

According to Ayad, the EU adopts a comprehensive approach to development that combines financial investment, technical assistance, and policy dialogue to support Egypt’s water sector. Key areas of cooperation include water supply and wastewater management, water conservation, capacity building for local institutions, and raising public awareness.

“The goal is to ensure equitable access to water resources, enhance resilience against climate change, and support sustainable development.”

The total cost of the programme is 395 million euros. It is co-funded by the EU, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the European Investment Bank (EIB) and incorporates climate-resilient infrastructure, promotes wastewater reuse in agriculture, and strengthens local water utilities’ operational capacities, aligning with the EU’s sustainability goals, Ayad said.

Guido Clary, regional head of the EIB, said that its role with European partners in Egypt “is to address one of the most critical challenges of our time: securing sustainable water resources that adapt to the growing pressures of climate change.”

He highlighted the EIB’s working hand-in-hand with partners from France, Germany, Italy, and the EU, as well as with institutions like the EBRD.

 “Together, we support large-scale water projects that not only tackle immediate water challenges, but also lay the groundwork for long-term sustainability,” he said, adding that “we call on all stakeholders to continue this vital cooperation work to enhance water infrastructure, ensure water access for all, and strengthen Egypt’s resilience in the face of future challenges.”

* A version of this article appears in print in the 5 December, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly