Pedro Arrojo Agudo, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, concluded a 10-day visit to Egypt, warning that financial pressures and governance reforms could undermine constitutional guarantees and international obligations.
In his preliminary observations delivered in Cairo on 17 February 2026, Arrojo acknowledged Egypt’s measurable expansion of drinking water and sewerage infrastructure but stressed that access and equity remain central human rights obligations.
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Why did the UN rapporteur warn against water privatisation in Egypt?
While recognising investment supported by multilateral lenders, Arrojo expressed concern about Law No. 172/2025, which opens desalination and sanitation plants to private-sector participation.
He cautioned that public-private partnership models could create risks for poor and vulnerable communities if tariff systems evolve under financial pressure.
The Rapporteur noted that Egypt’s Constitution recognises the right to safe drinking water, but said the human rights to water and sanitation are not clearly embedded in legislation and practice.
He described the 2021–2026 National Human Rights Strategy and the 2017–2037 Strategic Water Management Plan as positive steps. Still, he called for stronger legal guarantees and a clearer human rights-based approach to water governance.
What governance and transparency issues were identified?
Arrojo highlighted institutional fragmentation, with water management responsibilities distributed across multiple ministries and the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater.
He warned that overlapping mandates may create inefficiencies and marginalise local authorities.
Transparency was a central concern. Government officials told him approximately 13 million water samples are tested annually, but results are not publicly released.
The Rapporteur urged open access to water quality data, arguing that withholding results on grounds of complexity or national security risks undermines public trust.
He also raised concerns about reports of restrictions on public debate regarding pollution and water quality.
What environmental and equity risks were raised?
Arrojo reported receiving information about untreated industrial discharges into the Nile and significant agricultural runoff contributing to nutrient and heavy metal pollution.
He warned that contamination accumulates downstream, particularly in the Delta, where population density is highest.
Service inequalities were also highlighted. He noted disparities in per capita water allocation between villages and new cities, and said around seven per cent of the population reportedly lacks indoor taps.
In quantitative terms, he emphasised that guaranteeing the human rights to drinking water and sanitation would require only a small proportion of total water extraction, urging authorities to prioritise basic use rather than attributing challenges solely to scarcity.
Arrojo’s detailed findings will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in September.