First Name:
Ahmed
Last Name:
Shaalan
Type of BP
Technical solution
Typology of Non- Conventional Water Resources (NCWR) What kind of NCWR do you deal with ?:
Brackish water (BrW)
What are the challenges raised by your Best Practice?
Difficult access to water, Water for irrigation and food production is not available, Other (Please specify below)
Other challenges
Insufficient water for urban irrigation
How could you describe your Best Practice?
This best practice addresses water scarcity and groundwater salinity challenges in Matrouh Governorate, Egypt, an arid region characterized by limited rainfall and increasing pressure on conventional water resources. The practice involves the desalination of brackish groundwater using reverse osmosis (RO) technology to produce water suitable for domestic and agricultural uses. The system provides a reliable and sustainable alternative water source for local communities, particularly in remote and water-stressed areas. Produced water is used for household consumption, livestock watering, and irrigation of selected crops, contributing to improved livelihoods and water security. The practice promotes the efficient utilization of locally available groundwater resources while reducing dependence on external water supplies. Its relevance to the WP3 Technical Catalogue lies in demonstrating a practical, scalable, and climate-resilient solution for enhancing water availability in arid and semi-arid Mediterranean regions.
Please describe your Best Practice in 5 keywords?
Desalination;, Reverse osmosis;, Water scarcity;, Brackish water; , Matrouh
Please provide any links to useful documentations (including website)presenting your Best Practice
In which area has your Best Practice been implemented ?
Urban area, Rural area, Other (Please specify below)
Other area
Peri-Urban area
Best Practice location implementation (Country)
Egypt
Localisation
POINT (27.915672 31.081439)
Who are the beneficiaries and/or the target group of your Best Practice ?
Water Utilities, Local Population
f the Best Practice has been implemented within a partnership, who were your partners ?
Matrouh Governorate
Have you involved stakeholders?
Yes
Please list them
• Local farmers and agricultural producers
• Livestock owners and pastoral communities
• Livestock owners and pastoral communities
What are the obstacles to implementation of Best Practice ?
Isuffi cient funding instruments to support solution for NCW, High cost of technological solutions
Did you receive funding for the research and development of the proposed BP?
Yes
Please indicate the source of funding
National funding
What difficulties you have faced to access the funding ?
The implementation of brackish groundwater desalination systems may face several funding-related challenges, including the high initial investment costs associated with desalination equipment, installation, and infrastructure. Additional difficulties may arise from limited availability of dedicated funding programs for small-scale water projects in remote areas, as well as the need for long-term financial support for operation and maintenance. Securing sufficient resources to ensure system sustainability and capacity building can also be challenging.
Has your Best Practice been validated/upscaled?
Yes. The desalination system has demonstrated its effectiveness in providing a reliable source of freshwater from brackish groundwater under the arid conditions of Matrouh Governorate. The results have confirmed its technical feasibility and its contribution to improving water availability for domestic and agricultural uses. The experience provides a replicable model that can be adapted and scaled up in other water-scarce regions facing similar groundwater salinity challenges.
Is there the potential to exploit/outscale the Best Practice?
Yes, there is strong potential for replication and upscaling of this best practice. The desalination of brackish groundwater using reverse osmosis technology is a flexible and scalable solution that can be applied in other water-scarce and arid regions with similar hydrogeological conditions. In Egypt, many desert areas face comparable challenges of groundwater salinity and limited freshwater resources, making this approach highly relevant. The system can be replicated at different scales, from small community-based units to larger centralized facilities, depending on local water demand and available resources. Upscaling would contribute significantly to improving water security and supporting sustainable development in remote.
Do you have or know any platform of sharing Best Practice that you would like to link to this inventory platform?
No
Does your Best Practice contribute to an innovation? If so, please provide a short description of the innovative component
Yes, this Best Practice includes an innovative component through the integration of reverse osmosis (RO) desalination of brackish groundwater with solar energy as a renewable power source. This combination reduces dependency on conventional electricity and enhances the sustainability and environmental performance of the system. The innovation lies in developing a decentralized, solar-powered desalination solution adapted to the arid conditions of Matrouh Governorate, where grid electricity may be limited or unreliable. The system enables the efficient use of locally available brackish groundwater to produce safe water for domestic and agricultural uses in remote communities. By combining renewable energy with water desalination technology, the approach offers a low-carbon, climate-resilient, and scalable solution to water scarcity. This model can be replicated in other off-grid and water-scarce regions with similar environmental conditions.
What technolog(ies) and/or tool(s) has(ve) been used for your Best Practice ?
RO – Reverse Osmosis, SF – Sand Filter (if used), MMF – Multimedia Filter (if applicable), CF – Cartridge Filter, HP Pump – High-Pressure Pump, ERD – Energy Recovery Device, UV – Ultraviolet Disinfection, PV – Photovoltaic Solar System
Please indicate the TRL associated with your Best Practice
TRL9 : Actual system proven in operational environment (competitivemanufacturing in the case of key enabling technologies)
Flow rate (m3/day)
50.00
Salinity (mg/l)
1500.00
Flow rate (m3/day) of treated NCW
50.00
Total Cost (€):
5196.97
Comment : Total Cost:
300,000 EGP
Garden Irrigation, Field irrigation, Other (Please specify below)
Other Treated NCW use
Urban irrigation, Peri-urban agriculture
How your Best Practice is economically feasible ?
The financial feasibility of this Best Practice is ensured through the use of low operating-cost renewable energy, specifically solar power, which significantly reduces dependency on conventional electricity or fuel. Although the initial investment cost for installing solar desalination systems may be relatively high, the long-term operational and maintenance costs are minimal. This leads to a reduction in the cost per cubic meter of produced water over time. In addition, the system utilizes abundant solar radiation in arid regions such as Matrouh, maximizing resource efficiency and ensuring sustainable operation without recurring fuel expenses. Financial sustainability is further supported by the reduction of water transportation costs and the improved availability of safe irrigation and drinking water, which enhances agricultural productivity and livestock performance. Overall, the balance between moderate capital costs and very low operating costs ensures the economic viability and long-term affordability of solar-powered desalination systems.
Is your Best Practice economically viable ?
8
Is your Best Practice environmentally sustainable ?
8
If there was a sustainability assessment carried out, what are the result of this assessment ?
A general sustainability assessment was carried out for the brackish groundwater solar desalination system in Matrouh. Environmentally, the system relies on solar energy, reducing carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels, with brine disposal identified as a key environmental challenge requiring careful management. Economically, the system shows high feasibility due to low operational and maintenance costs compared with conventional desalination methods, despite higher initial capital investment. Socially, it enhances local water supply reliability, supporting agricultural activities and improving livelihoods in rural communities. However, limitations include variability in solar energy availability and the need for periodic maintenance of membranes and system components, which may affect long-term performance.
Please indicate the other various social impact of your Best Practice :
Adressing immigrations (Exode & immigration prevention)
To which Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) your Best Practice contributes?
SDG6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Several important lessons were learned during the design and implementation of the brackish groundwater desalination best practice in Matrouh. Early integration of site-specific hydrogeological conditions into the system design was essential to ensure optimal well selection, pump sizing, and treatment efficiency. Proper pre-treatment design proved critical to protect reverse osmosis (RO) membranes and reduce operational problems such as fouling and scaling. The integration of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy highlighted the importance of accurately matching energy demand with solar supply to ensure system stability. It was also learned that involving local stakeholders and operators from the early stages of implementation improves acceptance, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability. In addition, logistical planning for equipment installation in remote desert areas is a key factor affecting project timelines and costs. Overall, adaptive design and local capacity building were identified as key success factors for effective implementation.
Have you any recommendation to add?
To improve the brackish groundwater desalination best practice in Matrouh, it is recommended to enhance system efficiency through optimized pre-treatment units and regular membrane maintenance to extend reverse osmosis (RO) lifespan. Strengthening energy efficiency by improving the design of photovoltaic (PV) systems and integrating energy storage solutions would ensure more stable operation. Capacity building for local operators is essential to improve technical performance and reduce downtime. For replication and scaling up, modular and decentralized system designs are recommended to allow flexible implementation in remote and water-scarce areas. Detailed hydrogeological assessments should be conducted before installation to ensure sustainable groundwater abstraction. Additionally, improving brine management practices is necessary to minimize environmental impacts. Financial and institutional support mechanisms should also be strengthened to facilitate wider adoption and long-term sustainability of the technology in similar arid and semi-arid regions.
Please indicate the acronyms of used &/or developed technologies/Tools:
Soil infiltration, Sustainable Drainage Systems, Reverse Osmosis, Filtration, Others