By Abbas Nazil
Severe pollution continues to devastate Egypt’s Lake Qarun despite recent official claims that the return of flamingos signals environmental recovery, with local communities describing a lake that is still toxic, lifeless, and economically ruined.
In villages surrounding the lake in the Fayoum Oasis, untreated sewage flows directly into the water through open drainage channels, producing a strong stench and driving away fish that once supported thousands of livelihoods.
Fishing boats now sit idle along the shoreline, restaurants that once thrived on fresh catches are mostly closed, and only a handful of fishermen still venture onto the lake each day.
Government optimism followed widely shared images of flamingos wading in the shallows late last year, which officials described as proof that environmental conditions were improving after years of degradation.
Authorities said migratory birds return only when water quality, food availability, and ecological balance are restored, presenting the birds’ presence as a turning point in Lake Qarun’s recovery.
Environmental experts and residents, however, warn that the flamingos’ appearance is misleading and does not reflect the lake’s true condition, noting that migratory birds often stop at polluted water bodies out of necessity.
Scientists explained that Lake Qarun now receives over a million cubic metres of agricultural runoff and untreated sewage daily, causing extreme salinity levels that exceed even those of the Mediterranean Sea.
Decades of chemical waste and sediment buildup have transformed the lake’s ecosystem, leaving much of its bed layered with polluted material and drastically reducing its ability to support aquatic life.
Fish production has collapsed from about 2,000 tonnes in the early 1980s to only a few tonnes in recent years, driven by pollution, poor management, overfishing, and the spread of destructive parasites.
Mass fish die-offs have forced many fishermen to abandon their trade, migrate for work, or relocate to other lakes where fishing remains possible.
The government says it has invested heavily in dredging canals, upgrading sewage treatment plants, reducing industrial waste, and restocking the lake with selected species as part of a long-term restoration programme.
Officials insist pollution levels are gradually improving and that new fish populations, particularly shrimp and sole, show early signs of recovery.
Local communities argue that these efforts have yet to translate into clean water or sustainable fishing, saying daily life remains defined by foul smells, dying fish, and lost income.
Residents stress that survival matters more than symbolic signs of wildlife, calling for real environmental cleanup that restores the lake’s health and their livelihoods.
For fishermen who grew up on Lake Qarun, the promised recovery still feels distant, with many describing the once-abundant lake as effectively dead despite years of restoration claims.