3. Water & Waste Water

Cost of water production and distribution, for both for irrigation and domestic and industrial use has been escalating over the past years. Water delivery is no longer considered a free service. It is becoming cost recovery service that will be dealt with in a public-private-partnership manner. That issue is being compounded by the ever growing population and resulting urban and agricultural developments throughout the country. More water use is naturally resulting in more wastewater production hence need for more wastewater treatment plants.
 

3.1. Water Treatment

The degradation of water quality is a major problem in Egypt, the most populous country in the Arab world. Population density and growth, industrial growth and the lack of sanitary systems all contribute to raising demand for drinking water and waste water management. In addition, Egypt depends on artificial irrigation and its diversified industry is in growing need of water management systems for the production process, cooling water and sewage plants. Industrial water needs are expected to rise from 3.6 BCM/year in 2000 to 5.5 BCM/year in 2017, bringing along a greater need for waste water treatment. Waste water flows nowadays reach 3.5 BCM/year, but only half this amount receives treatment.
The Egyptian water technologies market began its upsurge in 2004, thanks to the confidence which Egypt's reform-oriented government enjoys. Trust of bi- and multilateral donor agencies and developments funds in Egypt's environmental projects increased, making local financing components for water infrastructure projects easily accessible. The Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau greatly contributes to the financing, which makes German companies the leading beneficiaries of this development. The sewage plant in Kureimat, for example, is being built by a German firm. German companies can also benefit from creating consortiums with Egyptian firms active in the water sector.
 

3.2. Environmental Technologies and Services

A number of growing environmental sectors provide foreign companies with highly profitable investment opportunities in Egypt. Water treatment, waste management and many other branches are interesting for Egyptian companies and donors alike. Egypt's demand for environmental technologies continues to grow as production standards and cost reduction constraints increase.
 

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