The disaster would have far-reaching consequences. The farmers would not be able to produce their crops. The fishermen would have no work. Even the textile industry would grind to a halt. All of these were essential industries in Egypt. So there would really be no sphere of life not influenced in some way by the drying up of the Nile.
7 There will be bare places by the Nile, on the brink of the Nile, and all that is sown by the Nile will be parched, will be driven away, and will be no more.