Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Sherif El-Sherbiny announced that Egypt has achieved a significant leap in the execution of infrastructure projects for drinking water and sanitation, resulting in substantial improvements in service coverage across both urban and rural areas. El-Sherbiny noted that the total number of drinking water and sanitation projects completed or currently under implementation has reached approximately 5,100, with total investments estimated at around EGP 671bn. Among these, around 1,919 drinking water projects have either been completed or are underway, aiming to enhance water services and add a total production capacity of 16.6 million cubic metres per day. The investment in these water projects amounts to EGP 275.8bn. In parallel, the number of sanitation projects—both urban and rural—has reached approximately 3,181, with a combined treatment capacity of 11.6 million cubic metres per day and a total cost of EGP 394.6bn. This also includes two strategic agricultural drainage treatment plants: Al-Mahsama and Bahr El-Baqar, collectively providing 6.6 million cubic metres per day of capacity at a cost of EGP 16bn. As a result of these efforts, Egypt's national drinking water coverage increased from 95% in 2014 to a projected 99% by 2025, while urban sanitation coverage rose from 79% to 96% over the same period. The most dramatic improvement, however, has been in rural sanitation coverage, which surged from just 12% in 2014 to an expected 60% by 2025, based on the total rural population. El-Sherbiny added that the total number of drinking water plants—including surface, artesian, and desalination facilities—has reached approximately 3,188, with a current production of 30.7 million cubic metres per day and a design capacity of 44 million cubic metres per day. The national drinking water network has expanded to cover about 181,000 kilometres. Meanwhile, wastewater treatment infrastructure includes about 602 treatment plants (primary, secondary, and tertiary) with a combined design capacity of 18.9 million cubic metres per day, and a total sanitation network spanning approximately 92,000 kilometres. A major portion of this expansion falls under the first phase of the presidential Decent Life initiative, which targets rural development. Under this initiative, 891 drinking water projects and 923 sanitation projects have been completed or are in progress—totalling 1,814 projects—with an estimated value of EGP 121bn. Additional investments of EGP 39bn have been allocated for network expansions, renovations, reinforcements, and household connections. This brings the total investment in the drinking water and sanitation sector—both completed and ongoing—to approximately EGP 726bn. El-Sherbiny stressed that these developments reflect the state's prioritisation of equitable service delivery, sustainable infrastructure, and improved quality of life for all Egyptians—especially in historically underserved rural communities.
