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Just How Polluted is the Nile? |
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by Rosa Domingos | 26-12-2018 01:03
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When the most common diseases in Egypt are reported to be bacterial diarrhoea, typhoid fever, and schistosomiasis – which all have a connection to unsafe water and poor sanitation – then it is clear that the focus must shift towards one source: the Nile. Since the times of the ancient Egyptians, the Nile has always formed the main water resource of Egypt, with more than 90% of the population living adjacent to or rely directly on the Nile and its delta. However, with the country’s rapidly growing population, climate change and poor garbage and pollution management, the river has become disposed of contaminants that threaten the lives of many (Egyptian Streets, 2018). In 2017, former Minister of Environment Khaled Fahmy asserted that pollution in the Nile is still below danger levels in line with international standards, despite there being pollution spots and factories that discharge wastewater into the river. Moreover, in the same year, head of the Ministry’s Central Department for Environment Monitoring Dr Mahmoud Allam noted that the number of direct polluting facilities has dropped from 102 to only nine, and that the problem now only comes from indirect pollution caused by wastewater treatment plants (Egyptian Streets, 2018). On the one hand, according to an overview of the water quality assessment of the Nile, the pollutants discharged into the Nile are often strongly diluted, and as such, mid-stream conditions are still seen to be at a fairly clean level. In most examined samples, for instance, residues of organo-chlorine pesticides were detected at levels below the limit set by the World Health Organisation for use as drinking water. Nevertheless, it is important to point out the parameters used for measurement are often limited and that many areas may contain a higher concentration of pollutants than others, such as Lake Maryut and Lake Manzala, which receive a high number of pollutants from agricultural drainage. “Reports about water pollution are not correct,” Health Minister Hatem el-Gabali once told IRIN, as other studies dismissed by the government have revealed high levels of toxins that surpassed international standards (Egyptian Streets, 2018). In cities where industrial activities are concentrated, such as Cairo and Alexandra, industrial wastewater contributes most pollutants to the river, ranging from chemical industries, to textile, spinning, steel and mining industries. According to one assessment, lead and cadmium were detected in finished drinking water of four treatment plants in greater Cairo between 1993 and 1994, with levels of 29.6µg l −1 for lead and 4.15µg l −1 for cadmium, yet another one found the concentrations 14 and 24 times greater. Drainage water seeping from agriculture fields is also a major source of pollution, receiving large parts of salts, nutrients, pesticide residues, pathogens and toxic organic and inorganic pollutants. El-Kabbany found in his article the presence of 16 organochlorine pesticides in most of the water samples, and El Gendy concluded that residues of organochlorine insecticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were highly concentrated at Kafr El Zayat city and the Rosetta branch. Another important source of pollution is plastic, as a recent study by the World Economic Forum showed that most of the plastic that goes into the oceans starts in rivers. Of the 10 rivers where 90% of the plastic comes from, eight of them are in Asia, while the two other rivers are in Africa: the Nile and the Niger (Egyptian Streets, 2018). “VERYNILE” INITIATIVE BY BASSITA  Bassita, an Egyptian startup that specialises in social media campaigning, launched an initiative this year called “VeryNile” to drive the largest cleanup means of large-scale and efficient removal of plastic pollution from aquatic ecosystems. Source Egyptian Street. 2018. Just How Polluted is the Nile? Online. [Available ] https://egyptianstreets.com/2018/12/15/just-how-polluted-is-the-nile/. Dec 15, 2018. Accessed: Dec 25, 2018.
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13 Comments
Greetings Rosa
I hope you are doing well
Thank you so much for this report
Keep writing
Green cheers
Regards
Sus
Posted 15-03-2020 16:45
Thank you @Deepak for reading my work )
Posted 08-01-2019 20:33
Hi M. Joon
Indeed I too did not realise how adverse the Nile has become. The works of 'VeryNile' is how, in my opinion, local authorities should start to cleaning up the river. And then bigger and capacity intensive initiatives can be established to tackle the Sanitation problem.
Thank you for commenting!
Posted 08-01-2019 20:33
Hi M. Gyeongrin!
Yes, efforts should be made from all side if we want to see something being done for the Nile ecosystem.
Posted 08-01-2019 20:11
Hello, Rosa, My friend
Namaste from Nepal, Country of Mt Everest
I wish for your healthy body, peace mind and happy face in coming days, I wish you always can serve for this beautiful earth,
Happy New Year 2019,
In this Year
Donate Red (Blood)
Spread Green (Plants)
Save Blue (Water)
Thank You so much for your report about Nile river and its pollution, awareness and cleanliness is very necessary there,
Keep Writing :)
Posted 01-01-2019 17:16
Hello Rosa, Nile River has stood as one of the most important and iconic rivers that made out a huge civilization long time ago. However, as people start to live in city-based society and involve in public activities that trigger emission of polluted materials, the river also started to get affected.
Sanitation is in the first priority sector to secure and make the city survive for long term but what needs to come before the sanitation issues is 'environment-friendly' industry. I am not saying that it needs some solar panel-making factories or water-filtered wastewater management system to be built up first, but it will be better off to have well-planned city with efficient industry cores.
Thanks for your report, and let's keep ourselves a bit focused on Nile River issue, I also did not know that it was so severe case to be like this :(
Posted 30-12-2018 02:57
Hello Rosa
As water is not only the source of drinking water for human beings but plays a various and vital role in the ecosystem, which concerns habitual and sanitary matters, it is important that we keep this resource clean and safe.
However, as the industry develops, more artificial things are flowing into our rivers and contaminating the resource. To stop this from happening a cooperated effort from both the industries, government, and the people seems to be in great need.
Thanks for sharing!
Posted 30-12-2018 01:09
Hi Fatima!
Wow, having to know someone who has seen first hand how the Nile's condition has worsened sets a realisation that truely the State of the Nile is horrific.
It is truely sad that Alexandria has worsened with rubbish around its surroundings. The city is full of history indeed. I too also hope that the Egyptian government develops a sustainable development clean up campaign.
Thank for reading!
Posted 28-12-2018 20:09
Hey Kushal!
Yes Kushal, the Nile has been in existence for many years and over the years it has been polluted to a grave extent. Sanitation is the main problem with the Nile, because it is exposed to many. Hopefully a campaign to this regard will be established, just like the one done for Bagmati River.
And I commend the VeryNile campaign for their ongoing clean up sessions!
Thank you Kushal!
Posted 28-12-2018 19:57
Hey there Ishimwe!
You are right, pollution is a huge global challenge and can be dealt with with collaboration on all grounds.
Thank you for reading!
Posted 28-12-2018 19:38
HI Rosa!
My dad has just came from Egypt last week and he pointed out the pollution in Cairo generally became worse than the last time he went on February 2018. It is sad that the once long and beautiful nile river is now filled with waste in some parts of it.
Aside from Cairo, by looking at the pictures my dad snapped in Alexandria some areas are filled of rubbish and trash which is sad because Egypt is a country rich of history. Although the historic places are well preserved and clean, I hope the Egyptian government will work on becoming more sustainable.
Thank you for your report about water pollution in the nile river!
Posted 27-12-2018 19:16
Thank you Rosa for briefing us about the how Nile has been polluted.
Water pollution has been a huge problem and it is sad to know that Nile being longest and so popular river around the world has been facing the same problem.
Water pollution is also linked to health of the people with lack of safe drinking water and for other purpose like sanitation which can transfer many water communicable diseases. Strong action must be taken against it soon.
Bagmati river in Kathmandu which is popular religious river of Nepal has been facing the same problem too. A long campaign has been running to keep the river clean by taking out all the wastes being deposited in the river.
Thank you partner for such a beautiful report and wishing you happy and prosperous New Year.
Posted 27-12-2018 04:22
Hi Rosa,
Pollution in all its forms is really a global challenge that needs to be addressed profoundly.
Thanks for sharing!
Posted 26-12-2018 18:12