Engineer Randa El-Menshawy, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, chaired the regular meeting of the Ministry’s Utilities Committee to follow up on the status of drinking water and wastewater projects in Sohag Governorate, New Sohag City, and New Akhmim City.
The meeting was attended by Engineer Ahmed Omran, Deputy Minister of Housing for Utilities Affairs, along with officials from the Ministry, the New Urban Communities Authority, and affiliated entities responsible for drinking water and wastewater files.
The Housing Minister emphasized that the Egyptian state places great importance on the utilities sector, as it is one of the main pillars for achieving urban and economic development and improving citizens’ quality of life.
She stressed the need for continuous monitoring of the implementation rates of drinking water and wastewater projects across various governorates and new cities. These services directly affect citizens’ daily lives and must be completed according to the specified schedules to maximize the benefit of state investments in this vital sector.
At the beginning of the meeting, officials emphasized the importance of taking the necessary measures to prepare for the winter season. These measures include cleaning networks, maintaining stormwater drains, testing the efficiency of stations, and reviewing the technical condition and available quantities of equipment used for water removal operations.
The aim is to prevent water accumulation on vital streets and public squares, in addition to reviewing coordination with relevant authorities. The meeting also reviewed a report on field follow-ups of several drinking water and wastewater treatment projects currently under implementation in Sohag Governorate.
These included the expansion of the “New” Tahta Water Treatment Plant with a capacity of 51,000 cubic meters per day, the El-Mansha Water Treatment Plant with a capacity of 26,000 cubic meters per day, the expansion of the Sohag West Wastewater Treatment Plant with a capacity of 55,000 cubic meters per day, and the wastewater project in Dar El-Salam City.
The meeting also covered the rehabilitation and expansion of the West Sohag Water Treatment Plant, the completion of rehabilitation works for the secondary treatment stage at the Kola Wastewater Treatment Plant in Akhmim District, and the rehabilitation and expansion of several wastewater treatment plants.
The meeting then reviewed the implementation status of the first phase of the “Decent Life” initiative projects, which aim to serve 52 villages across seven districts. The projects include wastewater gravity networks, wastewater lifting stations, force mains, treatment plants, household connections, and water treatment plants.
The meeting also reviewed the status of the drinking water system in New Sohag City, which includes 10 projects currently under implementation, as well as the status of drinking water and wastewater projects in New Akhmim City.
At the conclusion of the meeting, officials reviewed the regular inspection report prepared by the Regulatory Agency for Drinking Water and Wastewater and Consumer Protection to monitor the drinking water and wastewater systems in Sohag Governorate and New Sohag City, along with the status of addressing the observations that had been identified.