EGYPT INCREASES DRINKING WATER FEES BY NEARLY 50%

Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail approved measures to increase fees for drinking water by up to 46.5%. This marks the second rise in drinking water fees for Egypt in less than a year, with a previous increase in drinking water and sewage prices by up to 50% in Aug. 2017. 

The recently announced decision to raise fees also includes a 12% increase in sewage fees, as reported by Reuters. The government argues that spending cuts will help revive the economy, where subsidies have accounted for approximately a quarter of state spending. 

According to a recent report on water scarce countries by BBC, Cairo, Egypt, is at risk as the World Health Organization ranks Egypt high among lower middle-income countries with water pollution related deaths and the United Nations predicts critical drinking water shortages for the country by 2025.