1. Problem Facing Nile Delta and the ChallengesBy
Dr. Mohamed H. Amer
Advisor to DRI, NWRC
Chairman ENCID

2. Nile Delta “Egypt”
Nile Delta is about 25,000 km² with about 34 million inhabitants (Cairo is not included),
It is among the most densely populated agricultural areas in the world, with 1,360 inhabitants per km².
About half of the area is used for agriculture.
The fish productivity is about Tons/year from the northern lakes (Maryut, Manzala, Edkua and Burullus),
About 40% of all Egyptian industry located in Nile Delta.
Most of the investments and economic activities apparently go the delta region.

3. Problem tree in “Nile Delta”
Vulnerability of the Nile Delta to
Environmental risks
Environmental degradation
of the Nile delta
Competing uses of land
Limited available
water resources
Potential impact of
sea level rise
Inefficient natural
resources management
Salt water intrusion
Population growth
Egypt’s arid climate
Global warming and
climate change
Negative impact of free
crop pattern
Sea level rise
Social behavior
Excessive pumping
Nile Delta flooding by sea
Traditional irrigated system
Conflict between
stakeholders
Lack of sanitation
Land subsidence
Water pollution
Coastal erosion
Egypt depends mainly on single water resources .
The natural NILE cycle of flow and sediment discharge has been disrupted.
The NILE DELTA is threaten by sea level rise erosion, sanitization, and pollution.
There is a marked decline in agricultural productivity and loss of land and coastal lagoons at a time
when the population is expanding exponentially.

4. Problem (1) Competing uses of land
Needs for recommended new areas for population growth
Nile Delta is fairly unique in the distribution of its population, land-use and agriculture, and economic activity which makes it extremely vulnerable to any potential impacts on its water resources and coastal zone.

5. Overview of Salam project
Adaptation assessment
Overview of Salam project
It is planned to use 1.50 BCM/year of mixed water to irrigate the reclamation lands in Port-Said Plateau, South Husseinia, and South Salhia.
The first phase, covers about 165,000 Fed.
The second phase covers the irrigation of 200,000 fed extending along the northern coast of the Sinai Peninsula from Al-Arish westward.
The last phase of the project is under construction at the present time and is expected to be completed soon.

6. Limited available water resources
Problem (2)
Limited available water resources
Needs for reuse agricultural waste water
Water resources in Egypt are limited as Egypt is mostly a rainless country.
A gap between fresh water resources and the country's requirement already exists 6 BCM/year.
The possibility of increasing the fresh water resources from conventional sources is doubtful.

7. Available Drainage Water
Adaptation assessment
Possible to be reused
Currently Reused
Available Drainage Water
Region
1.519
2.049
4.083
Eastern Delta
2.881
2.007
5.849
Middle Delta
2.384
1.123
3.819
Western Delta
6.784 ??
5,181
+ 4.0 unofficial reuse
13.751
Total

8. Potential impact of sea level rise
Problem (3)
Potential impact of sea level rise
Needs for protection of the coastal zone
Vulnerable areas defined by IPCC in 2006

9. Adaptation assessment
Beach nourishment and groins
Breakwaters
Legal development regulation
Bazalt Riprap to Protect Borg Al-Burullus Village
Muhammed Ali ea Wall to protect
Cultivated Low Lands (1.5m - 2.5m Below Sea Level)

10. Inefficient natural resources management
Problem (4)
Inefficient natural resources management
Needs for better water management
The NILE DELTA is threaten by pollution. There is a marked decline in agricultural productivity.
Drainage Catchments in the Delta with Pollution Problems

11. Adaptation assessment
(1) Establishing in-stream Wetland
Adaptation assessment
(2) Establishing Manzala Wetland
(3) Monitoring water quality in Nile delta
(4) Establishing irrigation improvement program
(5) Enforce guidelines and law application for env. protección
􀂃Environmental Law No. 48 of 1982 & Law No. 4 of 1994.

12. Needs for protection of coastal GW aquifer from excessive pumping
Problem (5)
Salt water intrusion
The ground water is considered the third water source for irrigation and other human Uses.
The ground water reservoir in the Delta is considered to be one of the biggest reservoir in the world ( about 280 km3).
Due to the excessive pumping over the last few decades, the groundwater quality in the northern parts of the Delta has been deteriorated considerably.
Needs for protection of coastal GW aquifer from excessive pumping
and pollution risk

13. Adaptation assessment
Establishing monitoring programme according to priority areas in Nile Delta.
A 50 cm rise in the seawater level is expected to cause about 4.5 km inland migration of equiconcentration line 1.
Additional pumping should be practiced in the middle Delta and pumping from the eastern and western parts should be reduced.

14. The challenge
The research project in Nile Delta is very important and must be designed to solve the main problem (ecosystem degradation) and address the following activities:
Conducting actual scenarios on the effect climate change on both the coastal areas and the Nile water availability.
Adopting different measures, such as water recycling, and exploitation of underground water resources to increase water productivity.
Using of modern irrigation techniques and genetically modified seeds which grow with less water demands.
Identifying new technology to be applied in water recycling which resulted in the reduction of freshwater discharge to the Mediterranean.
Improving technical performance of water supply and deliver system.

15. The challenge
Adopting different technologies for waterways, ponds, reservoirs and lakes restoration.
Reusing wastewater to support the agriculture production with minimal risks to the ecosystem.
Integrating biosystems to produce more products and generate less waste.
Groundwater and surface water bodies are physically interlinked; and need to be managed in an integrated way.
Adopting modern farming technology to increase crop-water productivity and reduce pollutants.
Providing guidance with regard to crop production, water requirement and water quality.

16. Conclusion
The Nile Delta is one of the most heavily populated and intensely cultivated areas on earth.
It is highly vulnerable to environmental risks.
Sea level rise, soil and water degradation, undiversified crop-pattern, yield reduction,
pests and disease severity, and irrigation and drainage management are the main key
factors that increased the environmental degradation in that region.
It is vital to develop adaptation and upgrading awareness in the Delta region to deal with
such environmental risks.

17. Thank
You All