18-12, Nishiochiai 2-chome,
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161-8575, Japan
Phone: +81-3-5906-0211
FAX: +81-3-5906-0112

Water Resource Development

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE OF PROJECT

Egypt has been experiencing sector reform in the water supply and sanitation sector since late 90s.
In the Sharkia Governorate, the third largest governorate with approximately five million people, the public water supply and sewerage corporation (SHAPWASCO) took over the management of all the water supply and sewerage services in the governorate from the local government in 1995
SHAPWASCO, like other public corporations and firms, is in the red because of low incomes arising from low fare receipts; excessive labor cost due to overstaffing; high cost of inefficient operation of the facilities; high unaccounted-for water (UFW) ratio; low ratio of water charge collection; and insufficient management ability due to incapability of obtaining management information (concerning production, water supply management, and customers).
Under such circumstances, in 2003, the Egyptian Government requested the Japanese government to implement a technical cooperation project to assist SHAPWASCO improve its operation and maintenance capacity.
This project aims to improve management capacity of operational maintenance of the water supply facilities in the targeted area.

CHARACTERISTICS, CONCEPT, STANCE & SKILLS OF PROJECT

(1) Activity for reduction of unaccounted-for water (UFW)

In general, unaccounted-for water (UFW) reduction activity is divided into the following three (3) countermeasures.
・Preliminary works : to conduct water balance analysis for obtaining the current situation of distributed water volume and UFW volume accurately.
・On-site works : to detect and repair visible or invisible (or underground) leakage points on the spot.
・Preventive works : to replace old pipes based on a renewal plan on which much leakage is expected in the future.

In this Project, preliminary works and on-site works are most important. As preventive works, the Japanese experts and counterpart team collaboratively formulate a long-term distribution pipe renewal plan during the Project for improvement of UFW ratio through continuous UFW reduction activity by SHAPWASCO after the Project.

(2) Activity for Improvement of operation and maintenance capacity of water supply facilities (SOP: Standard Operational Procedures)

Water supply facilities in SHAPWASCO consist of water treatment plants, production wells, Fe/Mn removal plants for groundwater use, and water transmission and distribution pipelines with booster pump stations.
This project aims to enhance the management capacity of operation and maintenance of these facilities by establishment of Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) and applying SOPs in operation and maintenance in accordance with current situation of these facilities.
A great emphasis of the project is that SHAPWASCO staffs become to solve the subject on the operation and maintenance by themselves.

EFFECT OF PROJECT

The following results are expected from this project:
<Output-1> Unaccounted-for water (UFW) ratio is reduced in the pilot project areas.
<Output-2> Operation and maintenance capacity of water supply facilities is strengthened.

<Indicators for Output-1>
・Water balance analysis can be conducted properly.
・Unaccounted-for water (UFW) and leakage ratios are reduced by 13 points in the pilot project areas.
・UFW team members of the Counterpart acquire leakage detection technique.

<Indicators for Output-2>
・Standard operational procedure (SOP) for operation and maintenance are developed and updated by the counterpart.
・SOPs are applied on water supply faculties by OJT (on-the-job training).
・Operation and maintenance plan is formulated.