The Canadian company Stantec has been appointed by the Egyptian authorities to lead the implementation of the Fayoum sewerage extension program, the main objective of which is to clean up Lake Qarun. This major wastewater treatment project will require an investment of €450 million.
This comes as no real surprise, since it was widely favoured. The Canadian company Stantec has recently won the contract to implement a major sanitation project around Lake Qarun in the Fayoum Governorate in Egypt. The programme to extend the Fayoum’s sewerage network should eventually enable the clean-up of this freshwater lake, which covers 233 km².
“Stantec will be responsible for design services related to network infrastructure and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), procurement support, project implementation support, training plan development, capacity building, contract management and construction supervision services. Implementation of the system and ongoing support to the Egyptian Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW) and the Fayoum Company for Water and Wastewater (FWWC) is key to this partnership,” says the Edmonton, Canada-based company.
Major remediation work in the offing
According to Stantec, in its first phase, the Fayoum sewerage extension programme will see the construction of four new sewage treatment plants in the governorate, the extension of seven sewage treatment plants, the rehabilitation of ten others and the dismantling of six treatment plants. Much of the wastewater treated by the new treatment plants will be reused to irrigate plantations in the Fayoum oasis, in line with the water management policy of the Egyptian authorities.
The Egyptian government is also planning the construction of approximately 256 km of new pressurized risers, 2,334 km of sewerage pipes and 100 new wastewater pumping stations. Stantec estimates that these measures will increase access to sanitation to 75.6% and benefit 700,000 people. The second phase will reach a further 41 underserved villages, with the potential to improve the living conditions of a further 240,000 people (940,000 in total), bringing total access to sanitation to 86% of the region’s population.
Support from several development partners
The first phase of the Fayoum sewerage extension programme should thus ensure the extension of sewers in 119 rural areas to handle agricultural wastewater. According to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the project will make a substantial contribution to reducing pollution of Lake Qarun. This will have a positive effect on the population’ health and on the main related economic opportunities in the Fayoum, including fishing, fish farming and tourism-related activities.
Implementation of the programme will require an investment of €456.5 million. The Egyptian government is financing the project with loans from the EBRD, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Union’s Neighbourhood Investment Facility. The works will last at least 5 years.
Jean Marie Takouleu
