ABSTRACT
Thoughtful Egyptians are beginning to realize that water conservation is essential for the future water supply of Egypt. Virtually all of Egypt’s water comes from the Nile River, which is vulnerable to climate change and is governed by the accords and relations with other Nile basin countries (Waterbury 2002). By agreement with the Sudan, Egypt is entitled to 55.5 billion cubic meters of water annually, although it very likely receives more. The per capita amount of renewable fresh water in Egypt is now just under 800 cubic meters, (generally taken as marking the scarcity level), and will decline as population rises. This water scarcity requires mitigation. Roughly 85 percent of Egypt’s water is used in agriculture, the rest divided between industry and domestic use. Extreme water shortage is a problem looming on Egypt’s horizon. Since the opportunities to increase the available water substantially are limited, careful use of existing water is essential.
