As part of Cairo Water Week 2026, Prof. Dr. Ayman El-Saadi, NWRC Vice President for Research Planning Affairs, participated in the technical session “Rethinking Safe Reuse: Decentralized Nature-Based Solutions for Addressing Hidden Challenges in the Non-Conventional Water Reuse Chain,” held on October 25, 2026.
The session was jointly organized by NWRC, represented by the Drainage Research Institute (DRI) and the Central Laboratory for Environmental Quality Monitoring (CLEQM), in collaboration with IHE Delft (Netherlands) and the Royal Scientific Society (Jordan), under the Dutch-funded SafeAgroMENA Project. Eng. Raafat Assi, Vice President of the Royal Scientific Society, also attended the opening.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. El-Saadi emphasized the vital role of water reuse in Egypt’s water management strategy, highlighting decentralized nature-based solutions as complementary approaches to large-scale treatment infrastructure.
Technical presentations were delivered by Dr. Hadeel Hosny, Dr. Al-Muayyad Al-Sayed, Prof. Dr. Maha Halalsheh, and Prof. Dr. Mohamed Shaaban, DRI Director, who showcased the integrated constructed wetlands system at Tahbar Drain in Fayoum.
A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Hussein Qarman, DRI Deputy Director, with the participation of Dr. Olfa Mahjoub (Tunisia), explored opportunities and challenges related to scaling up these solutions, including governance, financing, maintenance, and farmer engagement.
The session reaffirmed NWRC’s commitment to sustainable water management, innovation, and international scientific cooperation.
