Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam speaks during a ministerial roundtable at the 19th World Water Congress in Morocco. Photo courtesy of Egyptian cabinet.
Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam said during a ministerial roundtable at the 19th World Water Congress in Morocco that his ministry now uses advanced technologies to track aquatic weeds, monitor violations along waterways, analyze shoreline changes, and create 3D models of hydraulic structures.
A statement from the ministry said AI-based forecasting tools help predict Nile River water levels and ensure more accurate distribution of water resources.
These tools operate within a digital system that includes electronic groundwater licensing, national water databases, and integrated monitoring and maintenance platforms covering more than 55,000 km of canals and drains.
Speaking at a high-level session titled “Accelerating Action on SDG 6 (Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation) in a Changing World,” the minister highlighted Egypt’s broader efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 6, amid growing water pressures that require efficient and innovative management.
He said the Second-Generation Irrigation System provides a framework for improving water distribution, strengthening technical and engineering capacities, increasing transparency, addressing corruption, and improving monitoring and evaluation.
Sewilam outlined the system’s main components, including water treatment and desalination linked to food production, digital transformation, smart water management, infrastructure rehabilitation, climate adaptation, Nile regulation, governance, capacity-building, public awareness, and international cooperation.
He said the system is central to Egypt’s plan to strengthen water security, pointing to major expansion in water treatment and reuse, through projects such as Al-Mahsamma, Bahr El-Baqar, and New Delta, which together add about 4.80 billion cubic metres a year to the national water balance.
Egypt is also studying the use of decentralized treatment units, applying modern irrigation methods in sandy areas, and expanding rainwater harvesting and flood-protection projects, now totaling more than 1,600 structures, to build climate resilience and support agricultural productivity.
Sewilam said Egypt views the Second-Generation System as both a national tool and a model that can be shared with other African countries. He expressed Egypt’s readiness to exchange knowledge and modern technologies with partner states.
He said achieving SDG 6 requires stronger international cooperation, innovative and fair financing mechanisms, and a united African voice in shaping global water priorities.
SDG 6 is one of 17 goals adopted by UN member states in 2015 under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
It commits countries to ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Worldwide, more than 2.2 billion people lack safely managed drinking water, and over 4 billion lack adequate sanitation, problems that are worsening due to climate change and rapid population growth.
The World Water Congress, organized by the World Water Council, is among the most important global forums for advancing water policy.
Its 19th edition in Morocco brings together ministers, water authorities, researchers, development agencies, and private-sector leaders to address rising water stress, climate impacts, and the need for resilient, technology-driven water-management systems.
Egypt is classified as a water-scarce country, with annual renewable freshwater availability estimated at less than 500 cubic metres per person, well below the UN threshold of 1,000 cubic metres and within the range defined as “absolute scarcity.”
With a fixed share of Nile water and rising demand from population growth, Egypt faces one of the most difficult water-deficit situations in the region.
These pressures are worsened by upstream developments, especially the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Egypt says requires a legally binding agreement on filling and operation to protect downstream water security and prevent serious harm.
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