Water bodies cover about 70 percent of Earth’s surface, but how much do we truly value this precious resource? It is often said that what is abundant is taken for granted. The astonishing fact that water ecosystems make up such a large percentage of our planet can lead to a misconception – that we don’t need to worry about their survival. Somewhere along the way, the understanding was lost that of this total amount, over 95 percent of the water is in seas and oceans, while only a small percentage is freshwater sources like rivers and lakes. We should recall lessons from school – the first civilizations arose near rivers, which provided drinking water and fertile land.
The construction of dams, climate change, pollution, urbanization, and other human-driven factors have threatened the health of these ecosystems. Alarms have already been sounded, and in our country, they should echo even louder because it seems we are not hearing them. The jewels of our drinking water, the remaining healthy sources, are mostly fragile rivers. By this, I mean that the sources of drinking water are not giant rivers but small streams, which are under threat from human activity.
The New Delta Project
The Nile River, the longest river in the world, stretches through several African countries and is especially significant for Egypt, where it was home to one of the oldest civilizations. The longest natural river flows through this country, and now Egypt is building the longest artificial river created by man.
The New Delta Project is Egypt’s response to a major challenge – water. This artificial river will be 114 kilometers long and located in the northwestern part of the country. The project’s value is approximately 5.25 billion dollars and is part of a broader plan to expand agricultural land and improve water management. Specifically, the construction of this artificial river has several key objectives.
Most of Egypt’s territory is covered by deserts, which limits irrigation systems and agriculture. With the river’s construction, water will be delivered to areas that previously had no sources for this resource. In this way, new areas of agricultural land will be created. As noted, the project will enable irrigation for 2.2 million hectares of new agricultural land and create thousands of jobs. This will also reduce dependence on food imports, such as wheat.
Speaking of improved water management, this river will use recycled water from agricultural wastewater, and groundwater will also be used more efficiently. This is particularly important when considering climate change and more frequent drought periods. The artificial river is significant for climate change adaptation as a reliable source of water.
It must be acknowledged that this endeavor is indeed bold and deserves attention and consideration from other regions worldwide. Although we may not have always appreciated this valuable natural resource, it is not too late for humanity to create something positive for preserving nature and its future. Perhaps such innovative projects will inspire global efforts toward sustainable water resource management.
