Impacts of the Upper Nile Mega Projects on the Water Resources of Egypt

Abstract

This chapter explores the potential impacts of the River Nile mega projects on water resources of Egypt. The addressed mega projects are located on the White Nile, the Blue Nile, and the Main Nile up to Lake Nasser. The mega projects are mainly categorized as Irrigation; Canalization (streaming); and Power generation projects (Dams). The impacts on the water resources of Egypt were thoroughly investigated in different but interrelated dimensions. The main impact is the shortage of water reaching the most arid zone on the Nile in Egypt. Such shortage of water will create a chain reaction influencing at large all the environmental activities in Egypt (total environmental impact). The impacts include crop and fish production and farmers income, present and future reclaimed land (other developments), salt water intrusion, soil salinity, supply intakes and intakes for water treatment plants, main canals and rayahs, ecological imbalance, tourism industry, health risks, generation of hydropower, Dam failure impacts, and socio-economic impacts.