While Egypt has made good progress in urban sanitation, access to wastewater treatment in rural areas lags far behind.
Published on: 28/03/2012
Dumping untreated domestic wastewater, Lower Egypt. Photo: World Bank / University of Leeds
While Egypt has made good progress in urban sanitation, access to wastewater treatment in rural areas lags far behind, a recent study [1] showed.
The study analysed the cost-effectiveness of a range of wastewater treatment options in terms of the relative health benefits these are likely to generate for downstream farmers and consumers.
The study, conducted by the University of Leeds, UK, in partnership with the World Bank and the Holding Company for Water and Waste Water, discussed the benefits of differing strategies for wastewater management in Lower Egypt using Quantitative Microbial Risk Analysis (QMRA).
Only 18% of rural households had a sewerage connection in 2008, resulting in widespread discharges of untreated domestic wastewater in agricultural channels.
Simple improvements to existing domestic sanitary facilities could have significant benefits at a relatively low cost. The challenge is to work out what investment strategies make the most sense in terms of service delivery to consumers and farmers, health benefits and cost effectiveness.
The World Bank has been supporting Egypt’s reforms in the water supply and sanitation sector and continues to support improved access to sustainable rural sanitation services in Egypt, given its strong linkages to health and environment.
[1] Evans, B. and Iyer, P., 2012. Estimating relative benefits of differing strategies for management of wastewater in Lower Egypt using quantitative microbial risk analysis (QMRA). Washington, DC, World Bank Water Partnership Program, World Bank. viii, 36 p. Download report
See also a 2011 presentation about the study here
Related news: Egypt: World Bank supports improved rural sanitation for 1.2 million people, E-Source, 14 Jul 2011
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Source: Daily News Egypt, 24 Feb 2012
