Below the radar: the boom of groundwater use in the central part of the Nile Delta in Egypt

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dc.creatorEl-Agha, Doaa E.
dc.creatorClosas, Alvar
dc.creatorMolle, Francois
dc.date2017-09
dc.date2017-09-08T05:05:39Z
dc.date2017-09-08T05:05:39Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T18:40:52Z
dc.descriptionThe Nile Delta of Egypt is known for its large irrigated area supplied with water diverted from the Nile River, with a limited use of groundwater, largely for domestic and industrial use. Official statistics for the whole delta indicate that there are a few thousand individual wells used for agriculture by a population of over 2 million farmers. This study, however, shows that a phenomenon of groundwater development for irrigation has been unfolding over the last few years, largely below the radar of managers and researchers. A survey was carried out in the central part of the delta with the objective of (1) uncovering the actual situation of groundwater use in this part of the delta and (2) speculating on its implications. The results of the survey pointed to a recent and booming tube-well drilling industry, with well densities in some parts reaching one well every 2 ha. The development of groundwater abstraction in the central delta is strongly linked to inadequate and/or untimely availability of surface water in the canals. A technical, economic, and management characterization of wells complements the study, showing a continuum between purely private/individual ownership of wells and collective investments and management. Lastly, the article explores the implications of unchecked abstraction at the farm, local and delta scales.
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/83361
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/162572
dc.languageen
dc.publisherSpringer
dc.rightsOpen Access
dc.sourceEl-Agha, Doaa E.; Closas, Alvar; Molle, Francois. 2017. Below the radar: the boom of groundwater use in the central part of the Nile Delta in Egypt. Hydrogeology Journal, 11p. (Online first) doi: 10.1007/s10040-017-1570-8
dc.subjectgroundwater
dc.subjectlegislation
dc.subjectsocioeconomic environment
dc.subjectgroundwater development
dc.subjectwater use
dc.subjectdomestic water
dc.subjectindustrial uses
dc.subjectradar
dc.subjectdeltas
dc.subjectwater drilling
dc.subjectwells
dc.subjectirrigated land
dc.subjectfarmers
dc.subjectsurface water
dc.subjectaquifers
dc.subjecteconomic aspects
dc.subjectspatial distribution
dc.subjectsalinity
dc.titleBelow the radar: the boom of groundwater use in the central part of the Nile Delta in Egypt
dc.typeJournal Article

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