Egypt

Legal Framework

Until 2021, the main water law was Law number 12 of 1984 “concerning the Issue of the Law on Irrigation and Drainage”. It defined the National policy on Irrigation and Drainage with a focus on public properties (i.e. the River Nile, main canals, drains and embankment), groundwater and drainage water, as well as flooding and coastal protection. This law also regulated water allocation and farmland irrigation.

Law 12/1984 was repealed by Law number 147 of 2021 “concerning the Issue of the Law on Water Resources and Irrigation”. It contains 10 chapters and 126 articles. It

It defines the principles and rules relating to water resources use, management, and sustainable development. It sets rules about water administration, distribution, irrigation, and drainage systems. The aim is to achieve the rational use of groundwater to preserve it for future generations and improve developing and using modern irrigation systems in agricultural lands.

The law establishes the protection the course of the Nile Rive and covers groundwater issues such as well drilling, usage rates for irrigation and the disposal of wastewater resulting from desalination. It also covers the protection of resources, water facilities, and beaches, in particular the dangers of rising water levels, of rain and floods, and it prohibits any work that affects the natural path line of the Egyptian shores.

Two more laws complete Egypt’s water legislation:

1/ Law number 48 of 1982 “concerning Pollution Protection of the River Nile and the Water Channels”. The 20 articles establish the protection of fresh and non-freshwater channels forbidding wastewater and fuel discharge, and regulating pesticide and herbicide use as well as water reuse from water channels.

2/ Law number 4 of 1994 “‘Promulgating the Environment Law and its Executive Regulation” which defines regulations for environmental protection including air, land and water. Water protection covers Egyptian coastal shores and adjoining waters.

The National Water Resources Plan (NWRP) was established in 2005 for the period 2005-2017. An update was announced by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in 2018 for the 2017-2035 period. As of 2025, an update for a strategy to 2050 is in development.

In contrast with previous legislation the NWRP 2017 does not aim for increased Nile water use for irrigation, but provides goals towards water use efficiency, drainage water and treated wastewater use, and improved water demand management at local level.

The National Water Resources Plan’s main objectives are the following:

• Economic and social development: increase employment, improve water equity in distribution and farmers income, attain the minimum level of food self-sufficiency.
• Service improvement: meet water needs in all sectors, protect public health and the environment, strengthen institutional water framework and recover operational and maintenance costs.
• Implementation: create coordination mechanisms between stakeholders, monitor and evaluate water sector programmes’ implementation and contribute to the water section of the National Investment Plans.

The NWRP project has also endeavoured to create the necessary coordination mechanisms to develop consensus on the objectives and implementation of the NWRP between all stakeholders involved.

It also aims to develop the capacity to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Water Sector programs and provides inputs for the water component of the National Investments Plans.

Main Institutions

The missions of developing, distributing and managing the water resources are the responsibility of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI). The MWRI is also in charge of the development, operations and maintenance of associated water works as well as the collection and disposal of agricultural drainage water, the monitoring and assessment of water quality, and the protection of the coastal lakes and the shoreline. Within the MWRI, the Egyptian Public Authority for Drainage Projects (EPADP) is in charge of all drainage activities including reuse of drainage water.

Additionally, the National Water Research Centre (NWRC) is the research arm of the MWRI. It consists of 12 research institutes, a Central Laboratory for Environment Quality Monitoring (CLEQM) and the Strategic Research Unit (SRU)

The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MALR) is tasked with improving agricultural activities and land reclamation, including water management at the on-farm level. In accordance with farmers inputs, the MALR and its research centres conduct work towards improving farm output per unit of water and land. The MALR also sets land reclamation and horizontal expansion policies, in alignment with the NWP. The appointed department within MALR is the Central Administration for Soils and Water.

The Ministry of Housing, Utilities and New Communities (MHUNC), provides water supply and sanitation services to the municipal and industrial subsectors It is implementing national programs to expand municipal water treatment capacity and provide adequate sanitation facilities. Within the MHUNC, the National Organization for Potable Water and Sanitary Drainage (NOPWASD), and its affiliated agencies, are responsible for the planning, design and oversight of construction of municipal drinking water purification plants, distribution systems, sewage collection systems, and municipal wastewater treatment.

In addition, the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW) is in charge of the operation, maintenance and distribution of drinking water facilities as well as the collection and treatment of wastewater. Moreover, the Drinking Water, Sanitation and Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency (EWRA) is the quality supervising body for the drinking water, sanitation and wastewater sectors. Finally, the Construction Authority for Potable Water and Wastewater (CAPW) is the executive body for drinking water and sanitation sectors.