Technical‐economic screening for groundwater planning

Planning of water resources on a national or regional level involves many possible interventions. To keep the process manageable and affordable a screening phase can be introduced in which interventions are screened out at an early stage. This article describes the application of technical‐economic screening in the planning of groundwater development in the Eastern Nile Delta (Egypt). Through grouping of interventions, a number of policy options were identified and translated into practical plans. After preliminary screening, these plans have been subject to technical and economic feasibility analyses. Policy options which do not contribute to the economy of the country are eliminated from the planning process. The screening process is illustrated with two examples.