New valley: Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam met with New Valley Governor Hanan Magdy to review water projects in the governorate, discuss groundwater regulations, and examine monitoring and governance procedures for well withdrawals to protect the groundwater reservoir.

According to State Information Service Egypt, during the meeting, Sewilam emphasized that the ministry's relevant agencies will continue to monitor groundwater wells to ensure full compliance with all regulations and licensing conditions. He reiterated the importance of tracking readings of licensed well meters to preserve groundwater reserves and prevent over-extraction.

The minister also highlighted the necessity of strengthening the role of water users' associations in groundwater management, coordinating with ministry agencies, and promoting the use of modern irrigation systems over traditional flood irrigation methods in the governorate.

Governor Magdy pointed out the need to protect the groundwater reservoir and achieve effective coordination between the governorate and the ministry to enhance the water resources system. Both officials emphasized the importance of careful management of groundwater and joint coordination to assess the capacity of the groundwater reservoir in any area before offering it for agricultural investment.

They also discussed the need to coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture to select appropriate crop cycles and crops, based on the volume of water extracted from each well.