Cutting down consumption is the key to protecting Egypt’s water resources

When it comes to protecting Egypt’s water resources, cutting back on excessive consumption is key, the nation’s columnists remind us. Al Masry Al Youm’s Abbas El Tarabily lauds the government’s plan to invest heavily in water treatment plants to secure the supply-side in light of external issues (a certain upstream dam). He notes, however, that domestic consumption is the second half of the country’s water challenge, and says that citizens must be held accountable for their water consumption through increased taxes or other painful measures. Similarly, Youm7’s Youssef Ayoub says that, while Egypt’s negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam are important, any success on that front will continue to be undermined if Egyptians do not cut back significantly on water consumption.