An Environmental Security and Water Resources Management System Using Real Time Water Quality Warning and Communication for the Nile River

Through a NATO "Science for Peace" Project initiated in July 2007 an environmental security and water resources management system using real time water quality warning and communication is being researched and developed for the Nile River in Egypt. Real time water quality warning will be provided through a four station Real Time Water Quality monitoring index network. In parallel, an Egyptian Water Quality Index will be developed. This paper describes the project and describes the progress accomplished in the first year of the project. It describes the current water quality sampling network in Egypt and highlights how the NATO "Science for Peace" Project will build upon and augment the existing network. It highlights the challenges encountered in establishing the environmental security and water resources management system. The paper also describes how a key objective of the project is to train young scientists in Egypt. This research will be relevant to NATO concerns under the two categories of Environmental Security and Water Resources Management. The project will allow Egypt to ensure environmental security of its water bodies and enhance integrated water resources management.