Integrated urban water management planning in Alexandria

Although most of the city is covered with potable water supply networks, satisfying water demand poses challenging issues: developing water resources; making better use of stormwater and groundwater; managing water demand and allocating water resources for appropriate uses. To these can be added, re-using treated wastewater in line with the National Water Resources Plan, exploring desalination, and protecting waterways and water bodies such as Lake Maryout from pollution. Alexandria aimed to become a leading city in implementing integrated urban water management based on an IUWM plan developed by all key stakeholders. It is too early to determine how far this will happen. The project has been successful in putting in place the key pillars upon which IUWM can be developed. These pillars include a well-functioning learning alliance, capacity support, research, the Integrated urban water management (IUWM) planning process and facilitation and coordination. A critical question, related to some of the recommendations above, is whether the very strong work done on the IUWM will result in a completed plan which is officially sanctioned and becomes a major influence on the future of water collection, use and reuse in Alexandria. [authors abstract]