Egypt drops below water poverty line in year 2000

Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mahmoud Abu Zeid stated that Egypt reached the water poverty line by the coming of the third millenium, saying that the individual's average share of fresh water reached 900 cubic meters annually, a decrease of 100 cubic meters.

The international level beyond which a country is considered as water impoverished is estimated at 1,000 cubic meters annually.

The Egyptian minister stated that "by the coming of year 2025 the individual's share will decrease again to reach 825 cubic meters annually."

He said the decrease is due to the overpopulation and agricultural expansion, adding that Egypt's annual share did not exceed 55.5 billion cubic meters annually.

He said, Egypt must look for new water resources from ground water, rains, desalinating water, recycling sewage and agricultural runoff to be reused.