In partnership with the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater, USAID increases access to potable water and improves sanitation for residents in North Sinai, where access to clean water and sanitation services is severely limited. USAID activities improve water access and infrastructure through the drilling of deep wells; construction of desalination plants, water reservoirs, and potable water transmission and distribution lines; and procurement of water distribution trucks. The activity has provided direct, potable water access to all of the estimated 450,000 people living in a 10,000 square mile swath of desert and has provided sanitation services to more than 110,000 people.

Implementing Partner: Holding Company for Water and Wastewater; Life of Project: October 2014 – September 2020; Total Estimated Cost: $50 million; Governorate: North Sinai 

GOALS

• Construct five groundwater desalination plants, one seawater desalination plant, and 14 deep wells.
• Refurbish two desalination plants for increased capacity, including drilling two deep wells
• Construct four water reservoirs for increased storage capacity
• Procure 50 water distribution trucks and 10 wastewater vacuum trucks for increased water access
• Expand potable water transmission lines for 126,000 people in Al Arish for increased water distribution

RESULTS

• Completed construction of four reservoirs and drilling of 14 deep wells, serving more than 50,000 people
• Completed construction of five groundwater desalination plants. Three of these desalination plants have complete in-grid solar power systems, a first in Egypt
• Procured and delivered potable water distribution trucks and wastewater vacuum trucks that provide potable water to 131,500 people and sanitation services to 111,646 people
• Procured and delivered 20 wastewater vacuum trucks to support the safe handling and transport of wastewater in urban areas
• Supported the procurement and delivery of maintenance equipment including two backhoe loaders, a 50-ton crane, two high speed vacuum trucks to deal with floods (frequent in North Sinai), and two wastewater system cleaner trucks