Chargé d’Affaires Thomas Goldberger, along with U.S. Embassy representatives including USAID Mission Director Sherry F. Carlin and Senior Regional Agricultural Attache Mariano Beillard, visited the Rod El Farag water treatment plant in Cairo on March 12, 2019.
The visit underscored the ongoing support from the United States for clean water initiatives in Egypt. Since 1986, the U.S. government, through USAID, has been involved in expanding the Rod El Farag plant with an $85 million investment. This facility serves millions of residents in central Cairo and is part of a broader effort that has seen over $3.8 billion invested since 1978 to provide potable water and sanitation services across Egypt.
During their visit, Goldberger and Carlin engaged with Engineer Mamdouh Raslan, Chairman of the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW), and Mostafa Ahmed al-Shemy, Chairman of the Cairo Potable Water Company. Discussions centered around current and future USAID activities within Egypt's water sector.
USAID's involvement includes helping establish HCWW in 2004 to standardize local water utility companies' operations under a national framework. They have also worked on strengthening institutional capacity and improving policy frameworks for better water distribution.
Goldberger emphasized the importance of these facilities as symbols of "the United States’ commitment to the Egyptian people," noting plans to continue partnerships with HCWW in enhancing Egypt’s water sector.
The embassy is preparing to observe World Water Day on March 22 by highlighting its contributions towards making clean water accessible to Egyptians. The collaboration with HCWW is crucial in this endeavor due to its expertise in managing Egypt's vital water resources effectively.