Engineer Randa El-Menshawy, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, chaired a meeting of the Ministry’s Utilities Committee to follow up on the sanitation system in Cairo Governorate and drinking water and sanitation projects in Shorouk and Badr cities.
The meeting was attended by Engineer Ahmed Omran, Deputy Minister of Housing for Utilities, officials from the Ministry and the New Urban Communities Authority, relevant entities affiliated with the Ministry responsible for drinking water and sanitation, and the heads of the Shorouk and Badr City Development Authorities.
At the beginning of the meeting, Engineer Randa El-Menshawy emphasized the importance of regularly and continuously monitoring the utilities systems in Cairo Governorate and the cities of Shorouk and Badr.
She noted that these systems are among the most important basic services directly connected to citizens’ daily lives. She praised the efforts being made to improve drinking water and sanitation services and enhance the efficiency of operation and maintenance systems to ensure better and more sustainable services for citizens.
The minister pointed to several challenges facing the implementation and operation of drinking water and sanitation projects. She stressed the need to address these challenges effectively while also reviewing the administrative structures of companies affiliated with the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater.
She also emphasized the proper use and allocation of available human resources within each company to improve performance efficiency and the quality of services provided. The Minister of Housing directed officials to adhere to the specified timelines for project implementation and closely monitor progress rates. She also called for immediate action to address any obstacles that could affect the progress of work.
In addition, she directed officials to increase the collection rates of water consumption bills for various residential, commercial, and administrative activities. This would help strengthen the financial resources of entities responsible for providing services and support their ability to carry out operation and maintenance works and improve the efficiency of utilities systems.
Engineer Randa El-Menshawy stressed the need to address any observations related to operation and maintenance works and promptly take the necessary corrective measures. She also emphasized compliance with public health and safety standards during the implementation and operation of projects to preserve asset efficiency and ensure the sustainable provision of services to citizens at the required level.
During the meeting, officials reviewed the implementation status of the sanitation system in Cairo Governorate and several ongoing projects. These included the irrigation emergency unit at the Arab Abu Saed Treatment Plant, the sanitation plant serving the Ard El-Narsh area, the second phase of expansions at the sanitation lifting station in Ain Shams, and the 1,500 mm-diameter force main from the Ain Shams station.
The meeting also reviewed the status of the third and fourth phases of the El-Gabal El-Asfar Treatment Plant, the sanitation plant serving the Mohamed Naguib area, and sanitation networks. The meeting also reviewed expansion works at treatment plants according to future needs and in line with Cairo Governorate’s urban expansion plans and expected population growth.
In addition, officials followed up on the status of the sanitation system in areas east of the Nile. Regarding Shorouk City, the meeting reviewed the status of the utilities system, including drinking water and sanitation networks in the Rabia and Geneifa areas. It also followed up on project implementation works in the El-Salam area as part of the city’s expansion works.
For Badr City, officials reviewed the implementation status of several drinking water and sanitation projects. These included Sanitation Lifting Station No. 8, Main Drinking Water Lifting Stations Nos. 4 and 5, Sanitation Lifting Station No. 4A, and a 28-km-long, 1,800 mm-diameter gravity sanitation line.
The meeting also reviewed the status of the sanitation lifting station project in the third phase of the Developers Area, covering 800 feddans. It also covered the rehabilitation and development of the two elevated water tanks and their facilities, as well as the rehabilitation of Water Lifting Station No. 2.
The meeting further discussed the implementation status of the second phase of the Drinking Water Lifting Station No. 4 project, in addition to the construction of an irrigation water booster station in the Beit Al Watan and Green Belt areas and the implementation of several lines needed to strengthen the area’s water network.
At the conclusion of the meeting, officials reviewed a report by the Regulatory Agency for Drinking Water, Wastewater, and Consumer Protection on the sanitation system in Cairo Governorate and the cities of Shorouk and Badr.
The report included several observations, and officials stressed the need to address them promptly and work to resolve them. This would help improve the efficiency of services provided to citizens and maintain the sustainable and efficient operation of sanitation plants and networks.