The National Water Research Center Achievements

This report tackles the National Water Research Center achievements that were accomplished in the fifth and last year (2006-2007) of the five-year research plan (2002-2007). These achievements represent a new addition to the continuous progress of scientific research and technological development for managing and developing water resources to face any future challenges and open new horizons that would conform to what science and fast-growing state-of-the-art technologies can offer. The report is an outcome of the efforts exerted by the NWRC and its twelve research institutes and different research units in the framework of implementing this plan parallel to the role undertaken by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation in the country's development.

The five-year research plan basically contains seven major axes which can be summed up in protecting and developing the conventional and un-conventional surface resources, protecting and developing ground water resources, developing irrigation and drainage in arable lands, protecting shores from corrosion and pollution, using conventional and unconventional energy in water resources, advancing irrigation and drainage facilities, application of modern technologies in the area of protecting and developing water resources. Each axis includes a number of researches and studies. The number of these studies reaches 246 research studies.

In the field of research activities, the NWRC has finished the fifth research plan (2002-2007) during the fiscal year 2006-2007, which comprised 74 research studies in the various aforementioned axes. In addition to the technical consultations delivered by the NWRC and its institutes to all the Ministry's sectors, governmental institutions, municipalities and regional organizations that contribute to finding the right solutions to the problems and obstacles encountered, simultaneously with providing the human resources with additional expertise through practicing and implementing these works. Thanks to the available research and technical facilities and expertise, consultations, short and long-term studies carried out by the research institutes amounted to 93 research studies delivered to different entities. The Ministry assigned the institutes with conducting studies and preparing technical reports to resolve some urgent problems. Assignments reached 58 throughout the year. The NWRC also implements 12 research projects funded by foreign organizations.

In the field of research publication, the year 2006-2007 witnessed abundant scientific production of the institutes; total published technical reports amounted to 247 reports including 189 scientific researches published in national and international journals and conferences. Ten research associates acquired their master degrees and thirteen research associates got their PHD degrees.

In the field of Information Technology development, peculiar achievements by the NWRC continue to take place. Environmental Research Institute was connected to the WAN, thereby the number of institutes and entities subscribed to that network reaches fifteen: Nile Research Institutes, Drainage Research Institute, Groundwater Research Institute, Channels Maintenance Research Institute, Environment Research Institute, Constructions Research Institute, Shores Research Institute, Central Laboratories, Central Library, the Office of NWRC's vice-president for Research Plan, Strategic Research Unit, the Ministry's building, Drainage Authority and the Nile Water Sector in Giza. Connecting the Nile Water Sector in Nasr City to the WAN is under development. In addition, securing of the network system against unauthorized access continues to take place. Development of the NWRC's website is constantly carried out. The NWRC' IT staff have been trained to the use of state-of-the-art technology to cope with the scientific progress in that sphere.

Regarding executive works in Water Researches and Studies Academy in Toshka, building the academy started in November 2003. Percentage of executed works reached 35% till 31 December 2006. Due to difficulties facing the executing company, work was suspended according to a cabinet council resolution in this regard. Preparations for presenting the task for bid to complete the remaining works are in progress. Eight vast gardens, with a 15-feddan area each, were planned and cultivated in the front and backyards of the Academy. Concerning the executive, research and technical works in the agrarian researches testing station, different crop syntheses were tested under five modern irrigation systems in an area of 53.50 feddans. Modern irrigation networks are installed in the remaining area (which is 59.5 feddans).

In agreement with the State policy for paying attention to libraries and converting them to virtual libraries, the NWRC's central library's goal lies in raising the efficiency of information performance and serving the readers and researchers to cope with the ongoing technical progress around the globe. The Main distinct achievements of the Central Library during 2006-2007 are as follows:

1-The following library services were developed to become more effective, precise and faster in electronic searching and retrieval in the library's possessions, searching the national and international databases and searching electronic journals. Subscription in a number of 2000 new journals in all the scientific disciplines, the services of internal and external borrowing, the service of providing access to full text, up-to-date acquaintance and selective dissemination of information, number of statistics regarding the number of the library users and visitors who access the library on a monthly basis, the service of answering the enquiries and providing library consultations, the service of photocopying and printing.

 

2- Integrated services and information exchange In October 2006, the library activated the cooperation protocol that was signed in 2001 with the National Information Network of the Scientific Research Academy , according to which bilateral cooperation became possible between the two sides as an attempt to achieve the library's expanding policy in electronic research and retrieval.  

3-  Electronic connection and bibliographic information network

A library consortium was formed to link the central library to the Ministry's Information Center, libraries branches of the NWRC's and its research institutes by a LAN/WAN in preparation for linking this network to other Egyptian ministries and universities networks. The library was included as one of the components of the "Fast Response Unit" that has been lately instituted to be a powerful instant tool to assist the ministry's decision makers and high-rank officials in locating and accessing information.

4 - Books fairs, scientific seminars and conferences

•  Book and journals fair held in the Arab Water Conference in

Cairo (December 2006) and presenting new bibliography

regarding Arab water.

•  Book and journals fair held in NAWQAM Canadian Projects End

in Sharm Al Sheikh (February 2007) a new bibliography

regarding gender.

•  Book and journals fair held in World Water Day Seminar in the

Ministry (June 2007) and presenting new bibliography regarding

water scarcity.

Development of research and administrative cadres for supporting scientific research has gained special importance in the NWRC in recognition of its importance in supporting the NWRC's research activities and programmes. Training courses and workshops provide good opportunities to develop skills in various fields related to the NWRC's activity. Participations of the NWRC's researchers and administrative officials in different national and international training programes amounted to 126. To enhance scientific knowledge transfer and scientific interaction, the NWRC organized many seminars and training courses. Participations of NWRC's researchers in international and national conferences and workshops went to nearly 416 and submitted scientific papers amounted to 189 researches.

Funding for the fiscal year 2006-2007 reached 18.491 million pounds, whereas the actual expenses were 18.380 million pounds with a ratio of 99%.

 

Research Plan Achievements of the NWRC

for the Year 2006/2007

Main features of the five-year plan (2002-2007 )

The five-year research plan (2002-2007) approved in 2002 is marked by clarity of features, applicable goals and a comprehensive vision comprising programs of water resources development and management built on seven axes which are as follows: protecting and developing conventional and unconventional surface water resources, protecting and developing groundwater resources, developing irrigation and drainage of arable lands, protecting shores from corrosion and pollution, use of conventional and unconventional energy in water resources, developing irrigation and drainage facilities, use of state-of-the-art technologies in the field of water resources protection and development. Each axis encompasses a number of researches and studies amounting to 246 dissertations including 74 studies tackled by research units and institutes in its last year (2006-2007). The Plan's goals are defined as follows:

Axes (1) Protecting and developing conventional and unconventional surface water resources

•  Raising efficiency of the Nile Water Management and Lake Naser

•  Dealing with the breach on the River stream by defining the guiding lines

of managing the river

•  Raising the efficiency of rainfall and floods harvesting in the Northern coast

and Sinai peninsula

•  Preparing an atlas for flood water and determining the safe limits for main

floods streams

•  Monitoring and analyzing the data regarding detecting and classification of aquatic weeds and its impacts on irrigation and drainage network, the river Nile and Lake Nasser .

The research plan achievements regarding this axis in the fiscal year 2006-2007 are represented in 20 studies carried out by 8 institutes and central laboratories. A statement of the studies names and numbers in accordance with the plan is as follows:

The Hydraulics Research Institute

1. Sedimentation research in Lake Nasser103
2. Study of the local hydraulic problems in the River Nile with its branches 115
3. Studying the Nile 's hydraulic efficiency at the major barrages 116

Water Resources Research Institute

1. General studies for protection and use of flood water 121
2. Preparing the hydrologic model for South and North Sinai - for Upper Egyptian governorates 123
3. Determining the safe borders for valleys in Sinai peninsula - Eastern Desert 124
4. Water resources strategy in Sinai 125
5. An assessment study of the Nile Valley projects and preparing research studies(a-b-c-d) for the (Friend/ Nile Basin ) 28

Water Management and Irrigation Methods Research Institute

1. Management and development of Qaroun Lake 130

The Nile Research Institute

1. Follow-up of sedimentation state in Lake Naser 103
2. Navigation development in the Nile River and its branches 105
3. Monitoring water quality of the Nile , its branches and the main canals106
4. Monitoring water quality in Lake Nasser 107
5. Making new hydro-topographic maps for the Nile river stream and its banks from Aswan to Cairo and its branches Damietta and Rosetta 110

Mechanical and Electrical Research Institute

1. Electro-mechanic Water Management 146

Shore Research Institute

1. Studying characteristics of shore water, seabed materials and pollution sources 161
2. Studying of change of seawater level and calculating rates of its rise162
3. Examining the silting phenomenon in lakes inlets and the Nile debouchments 163

Environmental and Climate Change Researches Institute

1. Environmental study regarding causes of polluting drinking water in villages of Al-Mansora governorate and the resultant health issues 156

Environmental Monitoring Central Laboratories

1-  Providing the required laboratory services for the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation in its different sectors, public and private organizations working in the field of environmental monitoring and the National Network for Monitoring and Improving Water Quality.

Axis (2) Protecting and Developing Groundwater Resources

1. Developing the Nubian Sandstone Reservoir
2. Developing groundwater in South Egypt, Siwa Oasis, the Red Sea and the Eastern Desert
3. Protecting groundwater reservoirs from pollution
4. Joint use of ground and surface water
5. Uses of industrial drainage water for artificial recharge of ground reservoirs
6. Protection of Egyptian monuments from ground water dangers
7. Updating hydrographic maps with different scales

The research plan achievements for this axis in the fiscal year 2006-2007 are represented in 6 researches conducted by two research institutes. A statement of the studies names and numbers are mentioned according to the plan as follows:

Water Resources Research institute

1. Assessment of ground reservoirs in the Red Sea areas in Eastern Desert 206

Groundwater Research Institute

1. Developing and monitoring use of ground water in the Oases 213
2. Testing station for artificial recharging in Abou Sumbul 218
3. Preparing hydro-geologic maps for modern development areas in Egypt 220
4. The national program for groundwater quality monitoring and supporting

   the network of monitoring and specialized studies 238

5. Use of processed drainage water in recharging ground reservoirs 240

Axis (3) Developing irrigation and drainage of arable lands

•  Raising field irrigation efficiency for various crops

•  Estimating and calculating water consumption

•  Developing the irrigation network and introducing highly effective irrigation techniques

•  Strengthening the links between farmers to undertake the responsibility of water distribution at the level of branch canals and mesqas

•  Estimating water losses at the level of distributary canals, branch canals and mesqas and studies for reducing such losses

•  Improving irrigation and drainage water quality

•  Training fresh graduates on management and maintenance of irrigation systems and the various agricultural works

•  Developing and improving drainage in arable lands

•  Monitoring and managing agricultural drainage water in terms of quality and quantity

•  Providing other water sources by using agricultural drainage water mixed with fresh water and processed sanitation water.

•  Increasing the efficiency of managing and operating irrigation and drainage networks through maintenance of canals and drains and determining the factors that help maintain its balance as well as control weeds growth in the networks

The research plan achievements for this axis in the fiscal year 2006-2007 are represented in 20 dissertations made by five research institutes. A statement of the theses names and numbers in accordance with the plan are stated as follows:

The Hydraulic Research Institute

1. Improving the capacity for transferring water in the main canals 303
2. Calibrating pumping stations and crantmeters 306

Drainage Research Institute

1.   Study of assessment of modern drainage technology and techniques 319
2.   Assessment alternatives for draining heavy silt lands 320
3.   Supervising the pilot farm in Sahl Al-Teena, Sinai 321
4.   Developing the national network for water quantity and quality 322
5.   Reuse of drainage water for irrigation in pilot areas 324
6.   Limiting pollution 325

Water Management and Irrigation Methods Research Institute

1. Estimating and calculating water requirements for different crops 314
2. Studies for water distribution in branch canals 316

Water Channels Maintenance Research Institute

1. Studying environmental assessment for the project of establishing a common drain and the possibility of opening the agricultural drain outlet on the Mediterranean sea315
2. Study of the environmental impact for creeping sand dunes inside Lake Naser and setting an integrated ecological system for protecting the lake326
3. Different environmental characteristics for the project of utilizing water of the Toshka Depressions and follow-up of its different related developmental activities330
4. Study of the ecological effects of the project of establishing the New Naga Hammadi Barrages - Damietta hydro-electrical power station on the Delta Barrages in Demietta branch - restoration of Monshaat Al-Dahab Barrages on Bahr Yousef 331
5. The natural processing system required inside Al-Qalaa drain to improve water quality 332
6. Studying the ecological impacts assessment for the project of setting up pipelines in substitution for the stream of Al-Hager Canal to discharge into Sail Al-Tebeen 333

Axis (4) Protecting Shores from Corrosion and Pollution

•  Follow-up, support and monitor problems facing shores, marine facilities and determine the key elements affecting them to find the proper solutions.

•  Conducting general planning for projects of protecting and developing the shores and making a study of its ecological impacts.

•  Monitoring the current and future shore changes

The research plan achievements for this axis in the fiscal year 2006-2007 are represented in three studies made by one of the research institutes. A statement of the theses names and numbers in accordance with the plan are stated as follows:

Coastal Research Institute

1. Study , detect, monitor and predict coastal phenomena 401
2. Study the impact of protection works on shores 402

Climate Changes and Environmental Research Institute

1. Study of a plan for environmental management for the shoreline in Marsa Matrouh 405

Axis (5) Use of Conventional and Unconventional Energy in Water Resources

•  Increasing the efficiency and performance of pumping stations through elongating the operating age and decreasing loss of power and maintaining operation rates.

•  Making an integrated map and database for energy and water using automatic methods.

•  Examining the provision of the power used in irrigation arable lands from Aswan to Qena by digging a canal starting from Lake Naser instead of pumping stations from the Nile .

The research plan achievements for this axis in the fiscal year 2006-2007 are represented in two studies made by one of the research institutes. A statement of the theses names and numbers in accordance with the plan are stated as follows:

Mechanical and Electrical Research Institute

1. Energy Integration 507
2. Use of new and renewed energy in lifting water 508

 

Axis (6) Improving Irrigation and Drainage Facilities

•  Protection of main facilities on the Nile whether hydraulically or in terms of dynamic loads

•  Maintenance and strengthening of different water facilities using modern resources

•  Utilization of valueless material as an alternative for part of cement or debris in concrete

•  Increasing the efficiency of concrete by use of different types of fibers

•  Study of the potential of improving different construction materials and selecting alternatives that suit the abundant local raw materials for the facilities assigned to be constructed

•  Reaching the optimal means for water courses lining in case of drying or after operation

•  Solving problems related to different types of soil whether for water facilities or for bridges

The research plan achievements for this axis in the fiscal year 2006-2007 are represented in eleven studies made by four research institutes. A statement of the theses names and numbers in accordance with the plan are stated as follows:

Hydraulics Research Institute

1.  Study of the hydraulic design for the new Asiut Barrages 606

2.  Improving and enhancing the division of Field and Sedimentation Measurements by modern systems 610

3. Study of performance of exits of multi-outlets electricity station 612

in the near area

Constructions Research Institute

1.  Support of bridges made of extremely weak argillaceous soil by use of deep foundations technologies 613

2.  Maintenance and support of different water facilities using modern materials 616

3.  Determining construction status of the facilities by monitoring its formation under the effect of different loads 619

The Nile Research Institute

1.  Protection of the River Nile Banks 602

Mechanical and Electrical Research Institute

1.  Dynamic Analysis for Barrages and reservoirs 622

2.  Assessment of performance of pumping station and reference

measurements 624

3.  Dynamic Analysis of stations 626

 

Axis (7) Use of State-of-the-art Technologies in the Field of Water Resources Protection and Development and Enhancing the Technical and Administrative Capacities of the NWRC

•  Use of State-of-the-art technologies like GIS and remote sensing

•  Study of Artificial Intelligence Applications in Nero-networks on the geotechnical engineering

•  Using the internet to obtain latest technologies in the field of water resources development and management

•  Preparing training courses for engineers and technicians in the Ministry or other authorities

•  Strengthen capacities and potentialities of the NWRC and train the personnel to the latest technologies

The research plan achievements for this axis in the fiscal year 2006-2007 are represented in twelve studies made by seven research institutes. A statement of the theses names and numbers in accordance with the plan are stated as follows:

Water Resources Research Institute

1.  Use of satellite images and geographic information systems in calculating data and analyzing studies and decision support 720

Groundwater Research Institute

1.  Main Databases 729

Water Management and Irrigation Methods Research Institute

2.  Study of Irrigation Management at field level 721

Water Channels Maintenance Research Institute

1. Detect and classify aquatic weeds in Lake Naser , the Nile along with its branches, irrigation and drainage network 761

Shores Research Institute

1.  Establishing a database for marine, environmental and coastal database for the Northern shore 750

Survey Research Institute

1.  Redefining sea level of the Mediterranean to update the framework of vertical survey measurements for the Nile Valley area

2.  Application of satellite images in updating maps and integrating Geographic Information Systems and Information Technology

3.  Establishing an integrated database for survey data using GIS 715

Central Laboratories for Environmental Monitoring

1.  Resumption of purchase of laboratory equipment 754

2.  Implementation of an intensified training program for staff 755

3.  Implementation of an integrated program for quality management and information systems 756

4.  Resumption of establishing the laboratory building (the second floor) 757