Integrated water resources management for Egypt

Egypt is approaching the point where water demands are exceeding supplies. This situation will necessitate improved decision making for water resources planning. Integrated management represents a unique approach, incorporating both temporal and spatial variations of the problem. To achieve an integrated procedure, efforts are being made to resolve numerous issues ranging from loss of agricultural lands to farmer involvement in the decision-making process. The first part of the paper describes the application of integrated management to water planning and water quality. The second part describes the necessary changes made to the administration structure and the importance of communications in integrated management. The irrigation improvement programme instigated as a result of the integrated approach is already beginning to redress the shortfall in supply by reducing losses. Reorganisation of the operation and the inclusion of the population in the decision-making processes have produced a positive attitude towards water-saving policies. Technical and legal controls have been introduced leading to a significant improvement in system performance and productivity.