Enhancement of water security by decoupling water use from economic development in Egypt

Abstract EN

Decoupling water use from economic development is a fundamental strategy to improve environmental
quality from the source.

Decoupling can promote economic growth while reducing water use and water
pollution.

This paper not only comprehensively considers the impact of economic development on water
resource consumption and water pollution, but also studies technological innovation that may contribute
to decoupling in the water sector.

Decoupling can evaluate the linkage between resource use or
environmental impacts with the economy by calculating a specific index.

There are three decoupling
indices in the literature among them Tapio decoupling index which is used in current paper.

The decoupling index for the water use for agriculture with respect to the agricultural consumption
footprint was estimated to indicate relative decoupling.

It was found also that the decoupling index for
pesticide use and fertilizer use per capita gross agricultural production showed "relative decoupling".

It
also shows that the dependence of economic development on water resources is gradually decreasing.

The government needs to focus on the wastewater treatment, strengthen the awareness regarding water
conservation at the same time, and use stepped pricing standards to reasonably control municipal water
use.