Minister of Housing and Fayoum Governor Review Progress of Drinking Water and Sanitation Projects Across the Governorate

Engineer Randa El Menshawy: Fayoum Governorate is receiving strong attention within the state’s plan to enhance services in villages and the most underprivileged areas

Fayoum Governor: The drinking water and sanitation sector has witnessed an unprecedented transformation thanks to the “Decent Life” initiative

Engineer Randa El Menshawy, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, arrived in Fayoum Governorate to inspect a number of ongoing drinking water and sanitation projects as part of the presidential initiative “Decent Life.”

She was welcomed by Dr. Mohamed Hani Ghoneim, governor of Fayoum, in the presence of Eng. Ahmed Omran, deputy minister of housing for utilities; Dr. Mohamed El-Tony, deputy governor of Fayoum; as well as several officials from the ministry, the governorate, and affiliated and implementing bodies.

Upon arrival, the minister and the governor held a meeting to follow up on the drinking water and sanitation system in the governorate and to review the implementation status of projects currently underway within the initiative.

The Minister of Housing emphasized that water and sanitation projects in Fayoum are receiving notable attention within the state’s strategy to improve service levels in rural communities and the most disadvantaged areas. She stressed the need to adhere to project timelines and ensure implementation according to the highest quality standards so that citizens can benefit from these services as soon as possible.

She added that the “Decent Life” initiative represents a major advancement in infrastructure and service delivery in rural Egypt, noting that water and sanitation projects play a vital role in enhancing public health. She also highlighted the ministry’s ongoing support and close monitoring to ensure swift implementation and the achievement of sustainable development in Fayoum and other governorates.

Engineer Randa El Menshawy further explained that the state is giving exceptional priority to upgrading drinking water and sanitation services in Upper Egypt governorates, including Fayoum. She noted that the projects being implemented under the “Decent Life” initiative reflect a genuine determination to improve citizens’ living conditions by providing essential services that meet their needs.

She affirmed that the ministry is working to overcome any obstacles that may hinder progress, with continuous follow-up to ensure projects are completed and operational as quickly as possible.

For his part, Dr. Mohamed Hani Ghoneim welcomed the minister’s visit, stating that it reflects the state’s commitment to strengthening infrastructure and improving water and sanitation services for Fayoum residents.

He pointed to the remarkable progress achieved in this sector through the “Decent Life” initiative, which has evolved into a comprehensive development program that significantly expands service coverage in the most in-need areas.

The governor also highlighted the cooperation between the governorate and the Ministry of Housing to ensure projects are completed on schedule, emphasizing that access to clean drinking water and safe sanitation services is a fundamental right for every citizen.

He noted that development efforts go beyond maintenance, focusing on closing infrastructure gaps in villages and remote areas while maintaining high technical and engineering standards.

During the meeting, both sides reviewed the water and sanitation system operated by the affiliated company in the governorate, including its role in water purification, transmission, and distribution, as well as wastewater collection and treatment.

The presentation outlined the drinking water system, which includes 10 plants with a total design capacity of approximately 853,000 cubic meters per day, in addition to water networks extending 5,374 km to meet current and future demands.

It also covered the sanitation system, which comprises 28 treatment plants, 59 main lifting stations, 58 sub-lifting stations, gravity networks totaling 1,153 km, and force mains extending 276 km, highlighting the significant investments made in this sector.

The review also addressed projects implemented by Fayoum Water Company under the “Decent Life” initiative, targeting 63 villages in the centers of Etsa and Youssef El-Seddik. These projects include the construction of five treatment plants and the expansion and reinforcement of networks, pipelines, and household connections for both water and sanitation services.

In addition, the meeting covered the status of ongoing projects across the governorate, including network expansions, reinforcement works, and household connections, as well as sanitation projects aimed at improving system efficiency and service delivery.

The presentation also highlighted various drinking water projects and sanitation initiatives, including the development of lifting stations and network extensions. It further reviewed an internationally funded sanitation expansion program designed to serve 45 villages, benefiting approximately 1.96 million people by 2040 through integrated treatment plants and network systems.

The customer service system was also discussed, including service centers across the governorate and the expansion of electronic payment methods, which contribute to improving service quality. This aligns with the Ministry of Housing’s vision to modernize utility systems and achieve a significant improvement in services.

The meeting also reviewed projects carried out by the National Authority for Drinking Water and Sanitation in Fayoum between 2014 and 2025. These included five drinking water projects with a total capacity of 170,000 cubic meters per day, eight wastewater treatment projects with a capacity of 52,000 cubic meters per day, and 16 sanitation projects involving lifting stations and networks.

Additionally, the status of Phase One projects under the “Decent Life” initiative in the centers of Etsa and Youssef El-Seddik was reviewed. These include five wastewater treatment plants with a total capacity of 72,500 cubic meters per day and 14 sanitation projects involving lifting stations, force mains, and gravity networks.

The meeting also covered completed project handovers and the progress of Phase Two projects, which aim to serve 75 villages in the centers of Fayoum and Tamiya. The minister and the governor also reviewed the authority’s investment plan projects in the governorate, including sanitation works in the villages of Al-Saayda and Al-Hatty.

At the end of the meeting, Engineer Randa El Menshawy stressed the importance of continued coordination and cooperation with Fayoum Governorate across all sectors, accelerating work on projects nearing completion, and preparing regular reports to track progress and ensure timely delivery.