United Nation Human Settlement Programme Office Programme برنامج األمم المتحدة للمستوطنات البشرية مكتب مشروعات مصر

Riverbank Filtration Project for Clean Water Production in Minya, Egypt Project Brief About UN Habitat’s Minya RBF Project In line with the Hayat Project for Local Development objectives, UN Habitat in partnership with ‘Minya Drinking Water and Sanitation Company’ MDWSC and through technical guidance of the Holding Company for Water and Waste Water aims to provide clean drinking water using low- cost, environmentally friendly technology. Goal 1: Improving home access of vulnerable communities to potable water

Minya Governorate Boundary

5 Units 75,000 maghagha inhabitants

2 Units serving 45,000 inhabitants 3 Units with Menya company funds to serve 45,000 inhabitants

United Nation Human Settlement Programme Egypt Office Programme برنامج األمم المتحدة للمستوطنات البشرية مكتب مشروعات مصر

Completed achievements to date include;

 7 Riverbank Filtration Units implemented and connected to the water network in Bani Amer and Kasr El Rakeeb (Edwa) providing access to clean potable water at home for more than 30,000 inhabitants.  5 RBF units implemented in Al Saidaa, serving more than 75,000 inhabitants in Maghagha.  3 RBF units replicated with the funds of the Menya water company to serve more than 45,000 inhabitants in vulnerable villages in maghagha.  In total, water interventions Provided water access to more than 150,000 inhabitants in total in Edwa and Maghagha cities, locations highlighted in the figure 1 (the production of one unit is 30 L/S, individual use in villages is estimated to be less than 150 L/D).

Far right and center images: Unit Implemented in Bani Amer Village Far right image: testing wells for remaining units in Maghagha City Images taken by UN Habitat Staff on site  Water quality is approved by the Higher committee of Water, Minister of Health.  A final event will be conducted July to share knowledge on the used technology and disseminate technical manuals to all relevant stakeholders, also aiming for scaling up to the whole country with high priority in cities of dire need to water access. United Nation Human Settlement Programme Egypt Office Programme برنامج األمم المتحدة للمستوطنات البشرية مكتب مشروعات مصر

About the RBF Technology Riverbank Filtration Technology is a technique that uses the soil’s natural ingredients (bed of the river) to produce clean drinking water, rather than using traditional costly mediums such as setting up purification plants. United Nation Human Settlement Programme Egypt Office Programme برنامج األمم المتحدة للمستوطنات البشرية مكتب مشروعات مصر

Advantages of using the RBF Technology in Egypt

 The economic cost – one unit costs 250,000 EGP compared to the cost of a traditional purification plant which is 10 Million EGP. The RBF unit provides equal supply of drinking water, which makes the technology highly cost effective )only 2.5% of the traditional system cost)  Natural control of pollutants and effective removal of solids, suspended particles and turbidity and pathogens (algae and protozoa, bacteria and parasites)  Natural purification with no chemicals (Green Technology)  Water quality is not affected by disasters such as river accidents (leakage of hazardous materials from tanks and the like) and natural crises (flooding)  Ease of operation and maintenance Implementing the technology in Egypt* Governorates where the technology has been implemented: Governorate Number of Production Units Q (m3/day) Implemented El Minya 21 Units (10 Locations) 63,000 Bani Sowef 6 Units 18,000 Al 6 Units (Imbaba Station) 15,000 1 Unit 3,000 4 Units (2 locations) 10,000 Total 109,000 In addition to completed projects, the RBF technology is currently being implemented in several governorates with more planned in the pipeline. United Nation Human Settlement Programme Egypt Office Programme برنامج األمم المتحدة للمستوطنات البشرية مكتب مشروعات مصر Governorates with on-going RBF projects include; Giza, Bani Sowef, El Minya, Sohag and Qenna. Governorates planned for implementation include: Qalyoubeya, Al Gharbeya, Ismailia and , Al Sharqeya.

*Information by the Holding Company for water and waste water Scale Up Potential For the scale up strategy to be implemented successfully and efficiently, UN-Habitat suggests a transfer of the knowhow to the local companies in the governorates where the technology is applicable. Setting up a good governance structure where local companies can implement, operate and maintain the units would also have a more resounding and rapid impact on the communities affected, technical support and quality control would be provided by the holding company. Additionally, awareness on the technology needs to be spread to local communities and relevant stakeholders in ministries of housing health and environment. This can be achieved through awareness events, dissemination of manuals and guiding tools and cross visits to operating units. Suggestions for cost sharing modules are applicable due to the low initial and operating cost of the units. Scaling up initial concept approved by Ministry of housing and currently undergoing project proposal with The Holding Company for water and wastewater.