A new water treatment plant was inaugurated in Egypt's Gharbiya governorate on Wednesday as part of a European Union (EU) initiative to improve water treatment plants in the country, read a statement by the EU. 

The inauguration was attended by French Ambassador Stephane Romatet, German Ambassador Cyrill Nunn, head of the European Union delegation to Egypt Christian Berger and Gharbiya Governor Tarek Helmy.

The capacity of the plant, which is located in El-Mahalla El-Kubra, the largest city in the Nile Delta governorate, was increased by 40,000 m³/daily with the aim of enabling some 345,600 residents in the area to have access to clean water.

The French Development Agency (AFD), European Investment Bank (EIB) and KfW Development Bank are participating in the initiative along with the EU and the Egyptian government, with total funds of 295 million euros.

According to the statement, the initiative aims at implementing the Improved Water and Sanitation Programme (IWSP1) to ameliorate potable water and water treatment services in four Nile Delta governorates Beheira, Damietta, Gharbiya, and Sharqiya.

The programme targets upgrading existing infrastructure projects and establishing new ones to improve water and water treatment services in the four governorates.

Egypt has been expanding its desalination projects in recent years in light of its concerns about water scarcity amid the increase in population.