The third edition of the Cairo Water Week (CWW) will go ahead as planned in October, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation announced in a statement on Saturday. The ministry added that there will be no changes due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has caused many other major events to be cancelled. The annual forum will be held in Cairo from 18 to 22 October in cooperation with national, regional and international partners. It will also take into consideration all the required preparations and government precautions, the ministry statement added. Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Aaty held a virtual meeting with high officials from the ministry, to discuss the water situation during the season when water needs are most extreme. During the meeting, the minister and officials discussed the water management strategy to meet the demands of different sectors in Egypt. Abdel Aaty asked that continuous monitoring of River Nile levels in the headwaters and rates of rainfall take place. He stressed the importance of continued monitoring of lake levels that receive water from canals in preparation for the rainy season, Monitoring of water levels in the Damietta and Rashid branches of the Nile and their returns to farmers will also take place. The meeting reviewed the ministry's efforts in transitioning from flood irrigation to the modern irrigation system, and the removal of violations on canals and waterways. There were also discussions on the salty water reuse projects in areas of the Suez and New Valley governorates. The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has decreased by 20% its administrative manpower working in the current period, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. All senior officials and engineers are working at full capacity, however, due to the shortage of engineers and the need for their efforts.
