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United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

WATER SECTOR IN LEBANON

AN OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERTAKING

LEGISLATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS

Prepared by Dr. Fadi Comair General Director

of Hydraulic and Electric Resources

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WATER SECTOR IN LEBANON

AN OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERTAKING LEGISLATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS

CONTENTS

Pages - Acronyms and Abbreviations………………………………………………… 3 - Executive Summary…………………………………………………………….4 - Part I: Water Resources and Management in Lebanon………………….....5

I.1 Geographical Location and Climate………………………………...6 I.2 Principal Challenges facing the Water Sector………………… ....7 I.3 Main water Pressures in Lebanon…………………………………...8 - Lebanese population under water stress - Unsustainable water management and uses - Environmental Risks - Governance / Management Crisis I.4 Impacts on Water Quantity and Quality…………………………….10 - Water Resource Quantity - Water Resource Quality

- Part II: Integrated Water Resource Planning (IWRM) in Lebanon………..13 II.1 National Decennial Strategic Plan for the Water Sector (2000-2010)…….14 II.2 Demography and Future Water Demand…………………………....14 II.3 Water Resources…………………………………………………….15

- Surface Water - Underground Water

II.4 Water Demands and Balance……………………………………… 18 II.5 Main Topics of the National Decennial Strategic Plan……………..21

- Insure Additional Water Resources - Potable Water Projects - Irrigation Projects - Wastewater Projects - Projects of Alignment and Rectification of Rivers

- Part III: Water Sector Legislation and Institutional Aspects in Lebanon…31 III.1 Water Laws and Water Rights…………………………………...32 III.2 - Organization of the Water Sector………………………………...32

- Ministry of Energy and Water (MOEW) - Regional Water Establishment (RWE) - Local committee (LC) - Litani River Authority (LRA) - Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) - Municipalities - Other organizations

III.3 Water Economic value with respect to the new Law……………..39

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- Part IV: The conceptual framework of IWRM in Lebanon……………..…41

IV.1-Weakiness of the present system………………………………….42 IV.2- The concept of Integration……………………………………….44 IV.3- Applying IWRM in Lebanon: the tools and methods…………....45

- Part V: Action Plan for IWRM Enforcement……………………………….. 51 V.1- Main Topics for a National Action Plan…………………………..52 V.2- Operational Level………………………………………………....58

Bibliographie…………………………………………………………………. 59

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Acronyms and Abbreviations BCM: Billon cubic meter BOD: Biochemical oxygen demand CDR: Council for Development and Resconstruction DGO: Directorate General of operations DGHER: Directorate General of Hydraulic and Electrical Resources ESCWA: Economics and Social Commission for West Asia (United Nations) FAO: Food Agriculture Organization GOL: Government of Lebanon GP: Green Plan IWRP: Integrated Water Resource Planning IWRM: Integrated Water Resource Management LC: Local Committee LRA: Litani River Authority MCM: Million Cubic Meters MOA: Ministry of Agriculture MOE: Ministry of Environment MOEW: Ministry of Energy and Water NGO: Non Governmental Organizations RWA: Regional Water Authorities RWE: Regional Water Establishment USAID: United States Agency for International Development WUA: Water Users Association

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Executive Summary

Lebanon water resources through seemingly abundant are not expected to meet the country's demand in the near future. Several pressures from a rapidly growing population, an expanding economy, increased urbanization and agricultural activities are leading to over exploitation of the ground water and pollution of existing watercourses. So far the water sector has been managed without a national policy for IWRM implementation but rather through decisions, decrees, laws and regulations same of which date back to the days of the Ottoman rule and French mandate; even through Lebanon has developed a Decennial Strategic Plan for the water sector (2010-2020).

The Ministry responsible for water resources has been restructured; it changed from Ministry of Hydraulic and Water Resources to Ministry of Water and Energy according to the law 221, and now holds new responsibilities in terms of setting the general vision for water resources management and developing plans for expanding and improving service delivery, coordinating projects and monitoring services delivered by private sector. Furthermore, the 21 water utilities have been consolidated into 4 authorities (Beirut Mount Lebanon Water Authority), in addition to Litani River Authority; Bekaa Water Authority; and South Lebanon Water Authority), in addition to Litani River Authority covering all the regions of Lebanon. The responsibilities of these authorities have been defined, but only partially enacted due to logistics and other reform related constraints. Furthermore, although Lebanon has experience in Public-Private-Partnership and relatively active civil society, the mode of PPP needs to be defined in a clear way and activated in some areas. For example Lebanon does not yet have a formal association for water users, although these associations are important to guarantee good water quality, to make sure that users are involved in the decision making and planning for various actions in water management.

Overall there is need to ensure that the water sector reform process in Lebanon is undertaken in a coherent and integrated way, based on realistic objectives within the socio-economic and political contexts. New institutional settings and reforms should be carried out for the successful implementation of the IWRM plans. The successful implementation of IWRM plans will urge the establishment of effective and appropriate horizontal coordination mechanism among different agencies. At the operational level, the stakeholders should also be given responsibilities. In addition, water laws and legislative instruments are essential and powerful tools for formulation and implementation of IWRM plans. There is a need to create modern water legislative instruments to support the implementation of IWRM plans.

The main objective of this study is to identify and propose a detailed operational plan for implementing IWRM in Lebanon with a focus on the needed institutional and legislative reforms and mechanisms for their enforcement in a feasible and realistic manner. The suggested reforms need to be socially, culturally, politically, and economically sensitive and catered to the specificities of this country.

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PART I- WATER RESOURCES AND MANAGEMENT IN LEBANON

CURRENT SITUATION

I. 1 Geographical Location and Climate Lebanon, with a total area of 10 452 km2, is situated east of the Mediterranean Sea and stretches about 210 km along the coast and 50 km inland. It is bordered by Syria in the north and east and by Palestine and Israel in the south. Administratively it is divided into six Mohafazats or provinces. Topographically, Lebanon can be divided from west to east into four parallel parts:

• a flat, narrow coastal strip parallel to the sea; • the Mount-Lebanon chain, the highest crest of which is just over 3 000 m; • the Bekaa Valley at a height of around 900 m; • the Anti-Lebanon Mountains chain, which rises to 2 800 m, in the east.

The climate of Lebanon is typically Mediterranean, with heavy rains in the winter season (January to May) and dry and arid conditions in the remaining 7 months of the year. However, the influence of the Mediterranean Sea, the topographic features, as well as the Syrian Desert in the north create a variety of micro-climates within the country with contrasting temperatures and rainfall distribution. The average annual temperature is 20°C on the coast (ranging from 13°C in winter to 27°C in summer), 16°C in the Bekaa valley (ranging from 5°C in winter to 26°C in summer) and less than 10°C at higher elevations in the mountain zones (ranging from 0°C in winter to 18°C in summer).

Average annual rainfall is estimated at around 800 mm, varying from 600 to 900 mm along the coastal zones to 1 400 mm on the high mountains and decreasing to 400 mm in the eastern parts and less than 200 mm in the north-east. Above 2 000 m, precipitation helps to sustain a base yield for about 2 000 springs during the dry period. Rainfall occurs on eighty to ninety days a year, mainly between October and April. About 75% of the annual stream flow occurs in the five-month period from January to May, 16% from June to July and only 9% in the remaining five months from August to December.

I.2 Principal Challenges of the Water Sector in Lebanon

Water in Lebanon has become an issue of towering importance. Since Lebanon’s share of freshwater is very limited, and since its dry season extends over seven months, lack of water has been a key factor in limiting Lebanon’s development. The 2.5% annual growth of Lebanon’s 4.8 million population also suggests that increased demand will place further strain on Lebanon’s limited water supply.

Some indicative statistics: Resident Population: 4 800 000 GNP / capita: US$ 4 200 Average annual precipitation: 8 600 Mm3 (823mm) Annual evaporation: ~50% % of population with piped water supply: 94% % of population with piped sewage disposal: >50%

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Area of cultivated land: 3 250 km2 Area of irrigated land: 900 km2 Area of forest: 1 350 km2 More than 80% of the population concentrated in a narrow coastal strip with Beirut at its centre, sandwiched between the sea and limestone mountains rising to over 3000 m. Water resources in Lebanon are subjected to severe pressures acting on both the quantity aspect in terms of over exploitation and wasteful use and on the quality of resources with polluting practices proliferating in all sectors. The principal challenges facing the water sector can be summarized in terms of technical and legislative – institutional set up:

- Increasing the availability of both potable and irrigation water in the Summer and Autumn (dams, hill lakes and recharge of aquifers); collecting and treating the large proportion of wastewater that currently pollutes streams, aquifers and coastal waters throughout the country;

- Reducing the estimated 50% unaccounted loss of water in the drinking distribution systems and also in the irrigation networks;

- Transferring the full cost of providing water supply and sewage disposal services from the State to consumers, through an equitable tariff and collection system;

- Streamlining and increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the institutions responsible for water supply, sewage disposal and irrigation.

- Update of the Decennial Strategic Plan endorsed by the Lebanese Government and Parliament along with preparing an Integrated Water Sector Strategy.

- Preparing a National Water Master Plan and approval by the Lebanese Parliament of the new “Water Code”

- Improving the Water Sector Governance by ensuring that all the necessary tools are set in place - Strengthening the capacity of the MOEW and RWE to enable them to carry out in an efficient

and optimal way the tasks entrusted to them. - Ensuring that Operations and Maintenance (O&M) of the water supply and sanitation services

are contracted out to private operators under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) concept and that the O&M of irrigation small and medium schemes are gradually transferred to Water Users Associations (WUA).

- Preparing a short and medium term investment plan for the Water Sector taking into account the priority of the Decennial Strategic Plan and the available funds.

There are several government agencies involved to varying degrees in water resource management in Lebanon, with overlapping functions. The main agencies are the MOEW, the Litani River Authority (LRA), and the recently established four regional Water Authorities (WAs), which officially replaced the 22 regional water authorities and about 210 local water committees. The MOEW is responsible for strategic planning of water resource management, including the preparation of the water master plan, conservation of surface and groundwater resources, as well as the design and implementation of large projects and dams; in addition, it has oversight of the WAs. The LRA was established in 1954 to implement the multi-purpose Litani River Scheme covering irrigation, potable water supply and drainage, in addition to power generation. According to its mandate, LRA has responsibility for irrigation schemes in South Bekaa and South Lebanon. The WAs have the responsibility to plan, design, and implement small schemes in the areas of domestic water supply, irrigation, and wastewater networks that do not come under the jurisdiction of the MOEW and the LRA. The WAs also propose

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water tariffs through MOEW and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) for cabinet approval. Although the WAs in principle have administrative and financial autonomy, and have recently become operational, yet administrative, staffing, institutional capacity and financial constraints abound. Hence, starting the year 2000, the Integrated Water Resource Management is a clear option for the Lebanese Government in order to implement the reform in the water sector along with the 10 year strategic plan prepared by the Ministry of Energy and Water, General Directorate of Hydraulic and Electric Resources to deal with the water resources as a complete cycle from the resources to the usage of water, treatment and reuse with the new vision under the concept of the Laws 221; 241 and 337 (restructuring the water sector) and By Laws published in October 2005. Many countries in the Middle East such as Lebanon in their struggle for economic and social development are facing all the above mentioned challenges related to water resources and management. Increasing demands in water, deterioration of water quality and quantity and mismanagement of natural resources make water an even vulnerable and finite resources. The latter is more evident in Lebanon where the sectoral approaches in water management are still prevailing even after the restructuring of the sector and cannot meet the contemporary needs for a sustainable resources management. Lebanon needs an overall management strategy looking at the entire water cycle and integrating the environmental, social and economic parameters. In addressing these, the basic pillars of IWRM will be met, they are:

- The enabling environment of appropriate policies and laws, - The institutional roles and framework - The management instruments for the institutions to apply on a daily basis.

The contemporary pressures for IWRM are further presented in the following section. I.4 Main Water Pressures in Lebanon a- Lebanese Populations under Water Stress Population dynamics constitute the dominant factor in the economic social and environmental evolution of Lebanon. This demographic situation in combination with the intensive urbanization accentuates the concentration of population and activities, mainly in the coastal areas. Growing water-stress in these areas poses a threat to the economic development and human livelihoods, mainly among the poorest and most vulnerable populations living in semi- arid rural areas. b- Unsustainable Water Management and Uses Water policies have been dominated for many years by a supply-oriented approach and a sectoral approach. Nowadays, such a policy orientation is unable to confront the growth in demand, the competition for water resources by the various economic sectors and the rising serious environmental problems. Globally, agriculture uses as much as 70% of all renewable water resources that are diverted for human use. This proportion reaches the 80 - 90% level in the Mouhafazat of North and South Lebanon. Irrigation systems are often scattered across vast rural areas, with poor maintenance and lack of managerial control and service levels. While improvements in domestic service have started mainly in the year 2005, agricultural water use is still dominated by the supply-oriented approach, driven by fears of food security.

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The scarcity and disparity of the water resources in the country are aggravated by the different levels of exploitability and vulnerability among different Mouhafazats. The pressure on resources is higher during summer period due to increased water demand from the domestic, municipal, tourist and agricultural (irrigated agriculture) sector. The average proportion of 72% of the water consumption in the country which corresponds to the agricultural sector exceeds 85% in the Mouhafazat of the North and South. However, recent data reveal a gradual shift away from irrigation toward municipal water uses (including household, commercial and industrial sector) and rely mainly on private wells mainly in areas facing water shortages. These shifts have less to do with water-efficient and sustainable practices in agriculture than reactive responses (e.g. restrictions, changing crops). Although drinking water is the first priority in Lebanon and agriculture is the second one in water allocation policies, the "environmental demand" is virtually absent. c- Environmental Risks Watercourses in the country serve as the recipient of huge quantities of all kinds of wastes discharges from agricultural, industrial and domestic activities. Emissions of organic pollutants from industrial activities are a major cause of degradation of water quality. Increasing water pollution causes the deterioration of water quality and threatens human and aquatic ecosystems health, economic development and social prosperity. In addition, the extreme variations in rainfalls and water flows whether due to climatic changes and/or due to other reason (e.g. land mismanagement, deforestation) lead to droughts and floods in the Bekaa and Akkar area followed by damage to economic, social, cultural and environmental assets. Among the latter, soils suffer from erosion. Lebanon actually face heavy pollution problems, resulting from human activities (agricultural, industrial and residential) on land. In addition, many of the country aquatic ecosystems are threatened because of the deterioration of water quality and quantity. The coastal ecosystems are at their most vulnerable in the face of the process to built-up the Mediterranean coasts especially concerning the oil spill resulting from Israeli Bombardment of the Jiyeh Power plant in July 2006 left big damages on the coast. Urbanization, pollution, over-exploitation of natural resources and fragmentation management approaches of natural resources pressure aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity. d. Governance/ Management Crisis Some forecast suggest that by 2020 the Lebanese people will face problems due to water scarcity. This is not only because Lebanon will lack of water resources unevenly distributed but, more importantly, they are still undervalued and mismanaged. Add to this, the problem of equitable sharing of Transboundary course in Lebanon (Orontus, Naher El kebir, Hasbani Wazzani). Whereas the future scenarios show that conflicts and interests in the region between upstream and downstream, towns and rural areas, and between the short and long term priorities will get worse, if current mismanagement and weak governance practices of water continue. The compartmentalized water management approach, the lack of coordination and cooperation between different institutions dealing with water management at local, national and even at regional-international level, contribute to the governance and management crisis in the country.

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I.4 Impacts on Water Quantity and Quality A brief summary of these pressures impacts on water resources quantity and quality are described below for all user sectors. - Water Resources Quantity As indicated earlier, the current mismanagement of water resources and increasing demand will most push annual water balance into deficit in or around 2020. There is a clear seasonal difference in both demand and supply between the raining season and the dry season which starts usually on June until October (JJASO). This water resource management must address the demand side along with the Decennial Strategic Plan of the country (described in part II). The pressures from the main user water sector are:

Domestic Sector: - Population growth increased economic activities and a desire for a better living have led to an

increase in demand for water - Many if not most residential building relay on private water supply wells which led to the

intrusion of sea water in the aquifer of most costal areas. - The rate of technical unaccounted for water and illegal practice reach 50% where as MOEW

estimated the losses to30%. These losses represent a financial burden that nearly cripples the ability of the newly water Establishments to maintain and upgrade their networks. Agriculture Sector:

- Irrigation is the largest user of water in the country and irrigation inefficient practices account for nearly 50% of total water waste

- Surface irrigation is used on about 70% of irrigated schemes while drip and sprinkler systems are used on 7% and 23% of irrigated land.

- In most areas, farmers use far more water than is required by crops with over irrigation reaching as high as 300 % in some area.

- The absence of awareness from the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) concerning the efficiency in irrigation methods leads to an unjustified waste of water. The efficiency rates are for surface water 55%, drip 85% and sprinkler 75%.

- The uncontrolled exploitation of ground water has led to the lowering of the water tables in many areas of Lebanon and the lack of well-logs and discharge data makes it difficult for official control

Industrial Sector

- Industrial growth zones in the country which has been officialized by the "Bureau d' urbanisme" of the Government without a preliminary study for the Industry water needs led to a major resources stress in the supply of these zones.

- Water Resources Quality As described earlier, water quality is affected by anthropogenic activities. Major sources of pollution are related to raw sewage discharge, industrial wastewater, uncontrolled solid waste disposal, leaching of chemicals from dump sites and agricultural land and salt water intrusion are the major source of water quality degradation. Seventy percent of all sampled water sources in Lebanon are affected by

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bacterial contamination. The discharge of domestic and industrial affluent into wells polluted major groundwater aquifers in the country.

Domestic Sector - Quality of distributed water usually deteriorates during distribution as a result of cross

contamination from unsafe piping, rusting conduits and other defects in the network. - No operational waste water treatment facilities are developed in the country. - Waste water networks are either damaged or undersized sewer over flow and discharge into

rivers and streams is a common occurrence and has led to the contamination of drinking water sources

- Widespread pollution is significant in the major coastal country zones

Agriculture Sector - Excessive use of fertilizers and unregulated application of pesticides leads to contamination of

both surface and ground waters - Untreated waste water is frequently used in irrigation in the Bekaa and as a result a number of

out breaks of waterborne diseases have been reported.

Industrial Sector - Industries produce approximately 100 500 tons of solid waste and about 35 MCM of

wastewater effluents with an estimated BOD load of 5000 tons each year. - These wastes are discharged into various water courses without any prior treatment and seep

through the highly fractured bedrock into the ground water. The following chapter briefly describes the decennial Strategic Plan as part of the IWRM National planning process for Lebanon.

PART II- INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES PLANNING (IWRP) IN LEBANON II.1 National Decennial Strategic Plan for the Water Sector (2000-2010)

The general Directorate of Hydraulic and Electric Resources (GDHER) of MOEW has proposed a 10 year plan with the objective to implement and insure the necessary funds for the study and execution of works in order to satisfy the water needs of the population in the following sectors:

i- Insure additional water resources based upon the construction of dams and the water recharge of aquifers.

ii- Potable water projects, based upon the rehabilitation and network development, the reduction of unaccounted for water

iii- Irrigation projects, rehabilitation and new development schemes. iv- Wastewater projects: sewer lines, wastewater treatment plants and sea outfall v- Project of alignment and rectification of rivers for flood mitigation.

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The total estimated budget for this strategy is about LBP 2,000 Billion (US$ 1.5 Billion) distributed over 10 years and financed by the internal budget, loans provided by financial institution and B.O.T. projects. The reasons for establishing this program are presented below. II.2 Demography and Future Water Demand

The population in Lebanon for the year 2003 is estimated to be 4.8 million according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Central Administration for Statistics and the UNRWA and the average yearly growth ratio of population is 2.5%. The water demand for domestic use are evaluated to be 200 liters/capita/day with losses in water supply and conveyance networks are estimated to be 30%. The industrial demand is equivalent to 30% of domestic demand according to World Bank reports. The actual irrigated areas are 90,000 ha and the area planned to be irrigated in 2030: 180,000 ha. The average consumption of water for irrigation including losses in conveyance and distribution networks:

• 10,000 m3/ha/year for the year 2006 • 9,000 m3/ha/year for the year 2010 • 8,000 m3/ha/year for the year 2020 • 7,000 m3/ha/year for the year 2030

Concerning water resources v/s demands, we consider a dry year with a recurrence interval of 10 years. Based on studies carried out on various water courses, it is possible to estimate the 10 year drought flow to be equal to 66% of the annual drought flow.

II.3 Water Resources a- Surface Water The flows in water courses are estimated at 3,400 MCM approximately for an average year. This figure includes the flows both in the national rivers as well as the Transboundary Rivers. The following table shows estimations of these flows (in MCM) in each geographic unit and for various periods of the year.

Table 1: Flows in Watercourses in Lebanon Mohafazats

Flows in Water Courses (average values)

(in MCM)

North Lebanon

Mount Lebanon

North Bekaa

Central and

Southern Bekaa

South Lebanon Total

Entire year 670 990 480 830 430 3400

May to October (6 months) 270 305 240 240 25 1080

July to October (4 months) 115 95 155 115 10 490

September 22 18 38 27 2 107

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The following pie-chart summarizes the contribution of the main rivers to the total yearly run-off flow:

El Bared5%

Abou Ali5%

El Jaouz1%

El Aassi (Orontes)14%

Nahr Ibrahim9%

El Kelb9%Nahr Beirut

4%

El Damour5%

Litani (Upstream)21%

Awali + Litani (Downstream)7%

El Hasbani3%

Others12%

El Aarqa1%

El Ostouene2%

El Kebir 2%

b- Underground Water

Since that the majority of the aquifers are directly related to the rivers, the amount of water drawn out of the aquifers at a later stage will be deducted from the share of the surface water courses. Nevertheless, there are certain aquifers that supply water courses after a relatively extended period that goes beyond the low flow season (estimates at 4 months). This means that, during this period, any flow extracted from these aquifers is not likely to have any effect on the flows in the water courses. At present, this resource is not accurately identified. It is estimated at 500 MCM as a mean yearly value and 140 MCM during the mostly dry months (July, August and September). It is distributed among the various geographical regions as follows:

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1743

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18 North LebanonMount LebanonNorth BekaaCentral and Southern BekaaSouth Lebanon

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II.4 Water Demands and Balances The drafts set for the water balance (demands v/s resources), have been calculated based on the estimation of the demands as can be set presently within a stable economy, and not according to the actual requirements that are not easy do assess.The following graph shows the requirements in each sector in MCM:

501

150

900

25060

675

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

Entire Year July to October

IrrigationIndustrialDomestic Use

The following table indicates the actual water requirements (in MCM) in the various geographical regions and for the different sectors during the summer months (July – October):

Domestic use (MCM)

Industrial use (MCM)

Irrigation (MCM)

Total (MCM)

North Lebanon 53 13 150 216

Mount Lebanon 127 30 78 235

North Bekaa 15 4 135 154

Central and South Bekaa 17 4 153 174

South Lebanon 38 9 159 206

Total 250 60 675 985

Table 2: Actual Water Requirements in Various Regions for (JJASO) dry seasons in MCM

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0

50

100

150

200

250

NorthLebanon

MountLebanon

North Bekaa Central &South Bekaa

SouthLebanon

IrrigationIndustrialDomestic use

Based on the values of the available resources and the demands, the water balance is laid out on the following map, by geographic region: For a 10 year drought period, the following preliminary notes can be set forth:

- The available natural water resources are not sufficient to fulfill the demands during the summer months (July – October).

- Mount Lebanon, Central and South Bekaa and North Lebanon are undersupplied and therefore require additional resources.

- In the situation where the projects of the Litani River Authority are all executed in the South Lebanon the water balance is affected positively by the flow coming from the Qaraoun Dam (180 MCM of dynamic capacity).

This water balance was set according to the estimated demands and not the actual consumption that is definitely lower. The flows in the water courses are for a 10 year drought period. For the annual frequency, the situation is clearly better. The main topics of the 10 year plan:

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II.5 Insure Additional Water Resources Considering the annual balance of rain fall in Lebanon (ref. §4 below) and the increasing need of potable, domestic and industrial water (reasons being the growth in population and the social evolution) the country is facing a water deficit which is being increasingly felt in urban, rural and especially coastal regions where the population has been displaced during the Lebanese war. The water deficit is about 700 MCM/year for a mean precipitation year and is doubled for dry years as in 1998-1999.

Referring to all water sectors, it is noticed that:

i) The water available from the springs is no longer sufficient especially in dry seasons. ii) The administration and individuals have overused underground water. Most of the projects

studied lately by the administration are based on drilling wells. iii) The over usage of underground water has lead to the following facts:

- A decrease in spring flows limits the use for potable water and irrigation. - A decrease in the water level in the underground reservoirs.

- The intrusion of sea water and the increase of salinity in the wells on the coast.

WATER BALANCE SIMULATION FOR THE ACTUAL SITUATION

R= 100 U= 216 B= -116

Total R= 295 U= 985

B= -690

Note: The above mentioned figures do not include the Qaraoun dam.

From July to October (4 months) f t d ht i d

R= Net Resources U= Net Use B Balance

R= 21 U= 154 B= -133

R= 73 U= 235 B= -162

R= 82 U= 174 B= -92

R= 19 U= 206 B= -187

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From what has preceded, one can clearly see the necessity of storing winter water to be used in dry seasons. Due to this fact the work plan calls: - First:

- To prepare detailed hydrogeological plans for underground water - To study the possibility of storing underground water - To maximum reduce the intrusion of sea water - To study all the necessary infrastructures to insure artificial feeding of underground

water. - Second:

- To study the possibility of water storage from the rivers in Lebanon from dams and hill lakes

- To execute the construction of dams and hill lakes in regions where their feasibility has been proven.

The construction of Chabrouh dam is in progress with a storage capacity of 8MCM Table 3 shows the existing and proposed storage dams of the static storage capacity. Concerning Ibl el Saki dam, the storage capacity listed below reflects the minimum volume, whereas the final volume will be decided following the geological studies and the determination of the water tightness of the basin.

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Site Designation North Lebanon Mount Lebanon North Bekaa Central and South Bekaa South Lebanon Total

1- Existing Dams Qaraoun 220 220 2- Proposed Dams Noura el Tahta 70 Qarqaf 20 Bared 40 Iaal 10 El Mseilha 10 Dar Beachtar 55 Chabrouh 8 Janneh 30 Boqaata 7 Aazzounieh 4 Damour 60 Aassi 37 Younine 7 Massa 8 Ibl Es Saqi 20 Bisri 120 Khardaleh 120 120 TOTAL 205 109 52 220 260 845

Table 3: Existing and Proposed Storage Dams sites

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WATER BALANCE SIMULATION AFTER

STORAGE

D= -319 S= +205 B= -114

From July to October (4 months) for a ten year drought period

D= Deficit S= Proposed Storage B= Balance

D= -270 S= +52 B= -218

D= -335 S= +109 B= -226

D= -235 S= +48 B= -187

D= -501 S= +432 B= -69

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From the above results, and, even if all the dams have been executed, it can be noticed that a storage deficit is expected in all the geographic regions These first conclusions show that Lebanon should undertake an active policy in the execution of storage dams. The risk is significant. In the near future, the possibilities of extending the irrigated areas will be subject to the effective achievements in terms of water storage as well as the consumption of domestic water that will remain a priority. The 10 year plan is the only reliable solution including IWRM.

2. Potable Water Projects All links between the dams and the network are to be done along with the necessary pumping stations, treatment plants and power stations. Before the sixties, very few Lebanese regions benefited from potable water networks. The priority was given to potable water projects in order to continuously insure water to the population. Thus, the administration undertook a plan for the creation of a potable water network to insure water to all the Lebanese regions. The following criteria were adopted at that time and that will be reviewed:

- The daily needs for potable and domestic water were 100 liters per day, whereas now the need has increased to 200 liters per day (ref. §5 below)

- The life span and the sizing of the network were calculated for a duration of 25 years and it has now been increased to 30 years.

- The need of water at the springs was calculated on these bases. To this day, and after 40 years, these works no longer satisfy the needs of the population. The Ministry Departments that managed these projects for over 40 years, started to rehabilitate these networks, reinforce their capacities or even find new water resources to follow up with the daily increase of water needs of the population. Moreover, CDR along with the concerned Ministry departments has undertaken rehabilitation works financed from abroad. For this reason the 10 year plan calls:

- For linking dams and collinear lakes to regional reservoirs and continue to insure additional potable water resources to various cities and villages.

- Reduce the unaccounted for water rate estimated 50 % and extend the services by developing new networks.

- Ameliorating potable water projects whether from resources or infrastructures in order to insure continuously the water to the population and fulfill their needs.

3. Irrigation Projects

With intention to utilize existing available water mainly from surface resources most effectively, MEW and LRA have proposed some new irrigation schemes. Among those schemes, four schemes, namely 1) South Bekaa, Scheme 2500 ha, 2) the Hydro-Agricultural Development of South Lebanon, Irrigation and Water Supply Scheme - Conveyor 800 will cover 30000 ha, 3) Southern Qaraoun Irrigation Scheme have been under realistic study and execution, and others are still at the preliminary study level requiring further studies specialized in the Akkar region and 4) the Orontus Irrigation Scheme of 7000 ha in the region of Hermel and Kaa.

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Irrigation is the largest sector in water use, therefore data to identify consumption of irrigation water, such as irrigated area, cropping pattern, cropping calendar, intake volume and so on, are essential. The existing irrigation schemes were identified based on the previous studies namely “Irrigation in the Near East Region in Figures (FAO, 1997)” and “Global Result of Agriculture Census (FAO/MOA, 2000)” where the irrigated area was estimated respectively in 1993 and 1999, as follows.

Year Cultivated Area (ha)

Equipped Irrigation Area (ha)

Net Irrigated

Area

Surface Irrigation

(ha)

Sprinkler Irrigation

(ha)

Micro Irrigation

(ha)1993 189,206 87,500 NA 53,500 21,000 13,000 Ratio to the total equipped irrigation 61% 24% 15%1999 261,000 NA 104,010 66,130 29,040 8,840 Ratio to the total net irrigated area 64% 28% 8%

Table 4: Existing Irrigation Area Net irrigated area of 104,000 ha given by the FAO/MOA census includes the areas that are hardly considered to be regularly irrigated with irrigation water supplied only once during the cropping period and also negligibly small land down to the scale of 0.025 ha that can belong to house gardening, providing a problem that may lead to over-estimation of current water consumption for irrigation if this figure is applied for analysis. Besides, the government has focused on the rehabilitation and modernization of irrigation schemes since 1994 without expansion of new schemes, except the Canal 800 which is under construction at present. It is, therefore, assumed that irrigation area in terms of equipped area has not been expanded on a large scale during the period from 1993 until date, and 100,000 ha approximately could be the base for estimation of current consumption of irrigation. Through the inventory of previous studies and information, 67 irrigation schemes were identified, covering mainly medium (between 100 ha and 1,000 ha) and large (over 1,000 ha) scales. The total equipped area of those schemes is 65,600 ha as listed in Table 1.2.2. Assuming that the rest of equipped irrigation area consists of small-scale irrigation exploited by individual farmers, the FAO/MOA census was adopted to estimate those areas by Caza base.

Category 67 Schemed Irrigation

Small Scale Irrigation Total

Equipped Area (ha) 65,600 24,400 90,000 Net Irrigated Area

(ha) 59,070 21,960 81,030

Table 5: Existing Schemed and Small Scale Irrigation Area Distribution of small scale and scattered irrigation areas of 24,400 ha in total was made in proportion to the areas by Caza shown in the FAO/MOA census. FAO/MOA census also gives irrigated areas classified by different sources of water such as surface water and groundwater. 48% of the total volume of water consumed for irrigation is supplied from surface sources including spring water, while 52% are withdrawn from groundwater aquifer according to the census.

22

As for irrigation method, surface irrigation system such as furrow irrigation is adopted over 70.4% of the total irrigated land in Lebanon, while sprinkler and drip irrigation systems are adopted respectively in 23.4% and 6.2% of irrigated land. All water diverted from surface sources are used for surface irrigation, and on the other hand, 43%, 45% and 12% of water extracted from groundwater resources are used for surface, sprinkler and drip irrigation systems, respectively. The philosophy adopted for the irrigation scheme in Lebanon is that water is becoming scarce, too valuable and expensive to mobilize. Hence both the administration and farmers should comply with high irrigation efficiency. Consequently irrigation efficiency adopted is as in Table 1.2.3.

Efficiency Irrigation

System Conveyance Distribution On-farm Overall Sprinkler 0.8 0.7

Drip 0.95 0.95

0.9 0.8 Table 6: Irrigation Efficiency Adopted

From the above table, an overall irrigation efficiency for surface irrigation is simply assumed to be 0.6.

Akkar

El HermelTripoli

ZghartaKouraBcharri

Batroun

Jbail

Kesrwan

Baalbek

Metn

Zahle

Baabda

Aaley

Chouf

West BekaaRachaiya

Jezzine

Saida

Beirut

Hasbaya

Nabatieh

SourMarjaayour

Bent JbeilMarketing CropsIndustrial Crops

Fruit TreesCerealsCrops

Cultivated Area by Crop & by Caza

Distribution of Schemed & Small Scale Irrigations by Mohafaza

23

The Current and Projected Water Demand for irrigation has taken into account all technical parameters put into the Digital Balancing Model (DBM) for assessment of the current and projected water demands for irrigation. In this connection, all parameters for calculation of water demand are changeable, and various cases of demand projection would be processed according to scenarios of water resources management in the course of the next phase of the study. Table 5.2-11

Tripoli

Hermel

Batroun

Jbail

Jounie Baalbek

ZahleBeirut

Saida

Sour

Rachaiya

Nahr el KabirNahr Ostouene

Nahr el BaredNahr Abou Ali

Nahr el Jouz

Nahr el Assi

Nahr Ibrahim

Nahr el KelbNahr Beirut

Nahr Damoure

Nahr Awali

Nahr SainiqNahr Zahrani

Nahr Litani

Nahr Hasbani

< 250m< 500m< 1000m< 2000m> 2000m

Nahr el Arka

Nahr Aachqout

North Lebanon

The Bekaa

Beirut

South Lebanon

Nahatiye

Mount Lebanon

23,429ha27.7%

9,151ha8.2%

44,580ha30.5%

10,517ha52.6% 2,323ha

35.3%

Others

Schemed

Figure 2.3.1 Projected Water Demand for Irrigation

782.0924.0

1060.01185.0

1330.0 1367.0 1435.0

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

2002 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Wat

er D

eman

d (M

CM

/Yea

r)

24

4. Wastewater Projects The density of the Lebanese population increased in the different regions. This resulted in an increased volume of wastewater concentrated mainly in big cities. During the past few years, the administration did limited works in the field of wastewater treatment plant, primary and secondary conveyors and wastewater drainage networks. For this reason, the Ministry Department worked on small 1ocalized projects to remove sources of pollution and discharge the waste in the neighboring regions. These small works are:

1- The drilling of wells, which are directly linked to the underground water. These wells were drilled especially during the Lebanese war.

2- Constructing small drainage networks that discharge in neighboring valleys without

preliminary treatment. Actually: The Ministry along with CDR drew a strategy to build about 20 treatment plants in Lebanon of which 6 have been tendered and these could serve about 70% of the Lebanese population. For this reason the 10 year plan along with the CDR strategy:

i- Give the priority for the execution of wastewater treatment projects on the short and long term to protect the environment and the underground water and springs.

ii- Secure the funds needed for the study, execution and supervision of these works. iii- The treated water will be used either for irrigation or for the recharge of the aquifer.

5. Projects of Alignment and Rectification of Rivers The objective of this project is to protect the people and the lands located on some sections of the river from the threat of floods, especially where there is a high density of population and where the damages could be very high. The risk areas are located in the Mohafazats of the North mainly at Akkar – Wadi Khaled region and the Bekaa in the Litani watercourse. The Ministry of Energy and Water started the program of alignment of River beds in 2000 and continue this process on yearly basis. The funds needed to finance and execute all these projects are considerable. The Government will finance these projects from its ordinary budget and from Arab and foreign sources, or by B.O.T.

25

Part III - WATER SECTOR: LEGISLATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS IN LEBANON

III.1 Water Law and Water Rights The water literature of MOEW provides an overview of existing laws and their administration,

most of which were formulated by the Ottoman Empire and modified and used by the French Mandate, who introduced the first water laws in Lebanon in 1925 and 1926.

The first law declaring water resources as a public property, aside from established water rights, was issued in 1925. In 1926, the French Mandate introduced a new law, which refers to the organization and describe "Water Rights" for individual water owners. In 1930, the Government of Lebanon (GOL) issued a decree, which considers that all water in privately owned land is the property of the landowner and is privately owned, thus changing what was stipulated in the previous laws. A large number of concessions and water committees have been created in the few decades before and after the end of the French Mandate over Lebanon. Since 1951 the GOL issued some 22 decrees dealing with the creation of water authorities in the country. The aim was to take ownership of water resources from individuals, organize water use and solve, at least temporarily, water use problems in order to cope with social, economic and industrial growth in Lebanon.

III.2 Organization of the Water Sector

Numerous governmental, Ministries and autonomous and semi autonomous agencies are involved in the water sector planning and management in Lebanon. Their responsibilities are inter-related and therefore it is difficult to discern a clear authoritative system linking promulgated decrees to the corresponding and appropriate agencies (MOEW, LRA, RWE, MOA, CDR, GP, etc.). The political power and interest involvement in the country at the institutional level led to this chaotic situation. The historical and actual perspectives concerning the main institutions involved in the water sector are described here below.

a- Ministry of Energy & Water (MOEW): Created in 1966, the Ministry of Hydraulic and Electrical Resources (MOHER), now MOEW since 2000, has the following mandates: • protect and develop hydraulic natural resources; • assume jurisdiction over the water resources in Lebanon; • study supply and demand, and global situation of the water resources in Lebanon; • prepare the national water master plan; • design, implement and operate large hydraulic facilities; • conserve and control the water resources including surface and underground water; • exercise administrative supervision over the WAs and the LRA. MOEW has two General Directorates: The largest of the two: the Directorate General of Hydraulic

and Electric Resources (DGHER) is responsible for research, studies and implementation of large-scale projects. The second one is the Directorate General for Operations (DGO) is responsible for overseeing the public establishment, for administration and financial aspects and for mines and quarries. MOEW exercises administrative supervision over the RWA, the autonomous Water Boards and Local Committees through the Directorate General of Operations (DGO). MOEW has about 212 staff against 578 assumed positions including 60 engineers. Due to the ban on new recruitment by the public sector,

26

the average age of MOEW staff is quite high. In recent years, some new recruitment and transfer from the other ministries were made on exceptional basis. MOEW's average yearly budget is about US$85 million and irrigation represents ten percent of this total budget.

b- Regional Water Establishments

Under MOEW tutelage, and before the establishment of the four Water Establishments (RWE) in 2002, the Litani River Authority (LRA) and the 22 Regional Water Authorities (RWA) (table 7) operated with various degrees of autonomy. In addition, there are 209 local water and/or irrigation committees, which were formed between 1984 and 1990 (table8). These local committees are under the tutelage of the RWAs. Out of these 209 committees 18 percent are for potable water, 60 percent are for irrigation, 14 percent for both potable water and irrigation and eight percent have no clear mandate. The 22 RWA were mainly charged with management of potable water, under the supervision of the MOEW, except for three RWA (Batroun, Barouk and Baalbek/Hermel which also deal with irrigation). About 15 percent of these water committees are jointly run with the municipalities. These RWA are responsible amongst other for setting the water fees for potable, irrigation and industrial uses which are approved by MOEW. According to available data they serve about 3.5 million people. The RWA are created by governmental decrees and their board members, usually between seven and nine, are appointed by the Council of Ministers; whereas the Local Committees are created by a ministerial decrees and their Board members, usually five, are appointed by the Minister of Energy and Water. Table 7 also shows the number of the irrigation Water Boards and Regional Committees, the population they serve and their location. Only Beirut Water Authority, Tripoli Water Authority and the Litani River Authority were given the power to study and develop their systems.

Figure 1: Organization of Ministry of Energy and Water

27

No Regional Water Authority/Committee

Caza Population

North Lebanon Mohafazat 1 Tripoli Water Board Tripoli & Akkar

481,000

2 Nabaa AI-Ghar Water Committee Koura 77,000 3 Kubayat Water Board Akkar 31,000 4 Nabaa AI-Kadi Water Committee Zgharta 59,000 5 Becharre Water Committee Becharre 33,000 6 Batroun Water Committee Batroun 50,000 7 Akkar Akkar * 8 Danniyeh Tripoli (Danniyeh) * Beirut Mohafazat 13 Beirut Water Board Beirut, Metn & Baabda 805,000 14 Ain el Delbeh Water Board Mount Lebanon Mount Lebanon Mohafazat 9 Barouk Water Board Baabda, Aley & Chouf 239,000 10 Keserouane Water Board Keserouane 45,000 11 Metn Water Board Metn 149,000 12 Jbeil Water and Irrigation Com. Jbeil 74,000 South Lebanon Mohafazat 15 Sour and Surroundings Water Board Sour 185,000 16 Saida Water Board Saida 132,000 17 AinEd-Delbeh Water Board Baabda, Aley & Chouf 420,000 18 Jabal Amel Water Board Marjayoun, BentJbail,

Hasbaya Sour 117,000

19 Nabaa EI-Tasseh Water Board Saida Jezzine, Nabatiyeh & W. Bekaa

218,000

Bekaa Mohafazat 20 Zahle and Surroundings Water Board Zahle & West Bekaa 146,000 21 Baalbek Hermel & Irrigation Board Baalbek & Hermel 200,000 22 Chamsine Water Board Zahl, W. Bekaa, Rachaya

& Hasbaya 85,000

Total 3,546,000 Table 7: Regional Water Authorities in Lebanon

Local Committee:

Table 8 describes the 209 Local Committees (LCs) with their locations and functions. These Committees were mainly established after the civil unrests of the 1980s. In general, the role of these Committees is restricted to the operation, maintenance rehabilitation and renovation of the networks and equipment. This keeps the responsibility for studying water requirements,

28

development of water resources and design and execution of extension of existing networks with the MOEW. Out of these 209 LCs, there are 25 Irrigation Committees, which are at present efficiently undertaking the O&M tasks (out of a total of 120). These Committees could easily form the nucleus of the proposed new organization based on Water User’s Associations.

Number of Committees Serving Each Purpose

Mohafazat Caza Potable Irrigation Potable + Irrigation

Undetermined Total

Akkar 2 10 4 1 17 Batroun 1 6 3 - 10 Becharre 2 3 5 1 11 Koura - 2 - - 2 Tripoli 1 6 4 2 13 Zgharta 2 6 2 1 11 Akkar* - - - - -

North Lebanon

Danniyeh* - - - - - Sub Total North Lebanon 8 33 18 5 64 Beirut Beirut - 1 - - 1 Sub Total Beirut 0 1 0 0 1

Aley 2 7 1 1 11 Baabda 3 1 - 1 5 Chouf 3 16 1 2 22 Jubail 3 10 2 2 17 Keserouane - 5 1 - 6

Mount Lebanon

Metn - 8 - - 8 Sub Total Mount Lebanon 11 47 5 6 69

Bent Jbeil 1 1 - - 2 Hasbaya - - - - - Jezzine 2 3 - 2 7 Marjayoun 1 - - - 1 Saida - 1 3 4 Sour - - - - -

South Lebanon

Nabatiyeh 1 1 - 1 3 Sub Total South Lebanon 5 6 0 6 17

Baalbek 2 18 - - 20 Hermel - 8 - - 8 Rachaya - 2 - - 13 Bekaa West 8 5 - - 13

Bekaa

Zahle 4 8 3 0 58 Sub Total Bekaa 14 41 3 0 58 Total 38 128 26 17 209

Table 8: Local Water Committees formed between 1984 and 1990

29

c- The Litani River Authority (LRA): In 1954, the LRA was established to: • develop the Litani River Basin domestic, irrigation and hydropower water schemes; • develop a national interconnected power grid, and • build electrical power stations and distribution networks in all Lebanese territory.

In 1955, the LRA was given the technical and the financial power for operating and exploiting all Litani River Basin related projects. In 1962 this power was expanded to include a water development plan for all the Litani/Awali basins and the area between the international Beirut-Damascus road and the southern Lebanese boundary. The LRA has four departments (Irrigation, Operation, Hydropower, Technical and Administrative) and an Accounting Unit. In 2002, LRA had 275 employees including 21 engineers. Due to ban of new recruitment in the public sector, the average age of staff is quite high and their number is gradually decreasing. LRA 2003 budget amounted to approximately US$17 million. Irrigation related expenditures are approximately estimated at US$3.75 million or about 15 percent of the whole budget.

d- Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR)

The CDR is the principal economic and physical planning and development agency of the central government. In 1977, the law gave CDR the responsibility of selecting, in cooperation with line ministries, the institution or combination of institutions required for implementation of projects financed by donors.

e- Municipalities: In 1997, the law reaffirmed that the municipalities will be responsible for preparing general plans for works related to sanitary and water projects, as well as for the establishment of sewage disposal facilities, and for matters concerning protection of the environment and pollution control. The Ministry of Interior & Municipalities is the tutelage ministry of municipalities.

f- Other Organizations: There are also other organizations dealing to a lesser extent with irrigation such as the MOA and the Green Plan (GP). MOA deals with aspects such as research, extension and training while the GP deals with land and water conservation, land reclamation, rural roads and construction of small hill lakes.

In 1972, the Lebanese Government issued a decree aiming at organizing all the water authorities into four Authorities following the administrative boundaries of the Mohafazats. It also created a Superior Water Planning Board within the MOEW; the "National Water Council" presided by MOEW's Minister to ensure the coordination between all the water authorities and other administrations and to establish a water policy. This decree was never implemented and as the management of all these large number of regional water authorities, committees, etc. became very difficult as each one tried to develop its own resources, to conduct its own activities single-handed, assisted in few instances by the MOEW. As a consequence, the MOEW was not able to oversee the work and assess the activities of these authorities and committees. In 1998, a new decree was issued organizing all Regional Water Authorities into four authorities: North Lebanon, Beirut & Mount Lebanon, South Lebanon and Bekaa (table 9).

30

Local Committees New Water Authority

No Old Water Authority Potable Irrigation Total*

1 Tripoli Water Board 2 Nabaa AI-Ghar Water

Committee 3 Kubayat Water Board 4 Nabaa Al-Kadi Water

Committee 5 Bcharri Water Committee 6 Batroun Water Committee 7 Akkar

1- North Lebanon

8 Danniyeh

8

51

64

1 Barouk Water Board 2 Keserouane Water Board 3 Metn Water Board 4 Jbeil Water and Irrigation

Committee 5 Beirut Water Board

2- Beirut & Mount Lebanon

6 Ain el Delbeh Water Board

11

52

69

1 Sour and Environs Water Board

2 Saida Water Board 3 Ain Ed-Delbeh Water Board 4 Jabal Amel Water Board

3- South Lebanon

5 Nabaa El-Tasseh Water Board

5

6

17

1 Zahle and Environs Water Board

2 Baalbeck & Hermel Water and Irrig. Board

4- Bekaa

3 Chamsine Water Board

14

44

58

* Including undetermined Committees. Table 9: recently created water authorities

Again in April 2000, the Lebanese Parliament approved new laws No. 221, 24 promulgated in May and August 2000 and 337 promulgated in March 2002 concerning the organization of the water sector. These laws deal mainly with the following issues: a. the MOEW mandate; b. the creation of the four new Public Regional Water Establishement (RWE) with their mandates

and their internal organization; c. the creation of a committee responsible for the evaluation of the RWE performance; and

31

d. the continuation of the present arrangement with the Regional Water Authorities and Local Committees for the next two years until they could be fully incorporated in the newly established Was.

Although the law was published in year 2000, the presidents and the six members of the RWE Boards were only appointed late in 2002 delaying the effective application of the law. These RWE are supposed to take over the management of the irrigation, potable water and sewerage schemes, but due to the technical, administrative and financial constraints, they are physically not able to undertake these tasks bestowed upon them by the law. The management of the irrigation as well as the sewerage schemes is still in the hands of the DGHER, Irrigation Boards, the Local Committees, etc. and there are no immediate plans to shift the management of these schemes to the RWE. The By Laws of RWE were promulgated in October 2005. III.3 Water Economic Value within the New Laws

With respect to the Tariffs in the new structure of the Water Sector, Laws 221, 241 and 337 have laid down factors to take into consideration in the fixing of tariffs. Article 4.1(b) stipulates:” Water Institutions shall be responsible, each within its scope of action and powers, of the following:

- To propose tariffs for supply of drinking and irrigation water and evacuation of wastewater so that they make take into consideration public or general socio- economic conditions.

These Laws have not been more explicit on this issue but it stipulates that all methods of its application shall be regulated by decrees adopted in the Council of Ministers upon proposal of the Minister of Energy and Water jointly with the Minister of Finance. Previously, it mentioned the responsibility of the institution to reach, through tariffs, financial equilibrium while taking into consideration the social conditions of consumers. The proposed criteria for an equitable tariff system to be taken into consideration for the Water Economic is to consider at first the RWE as industrio-commercial organizations. It is implied that they should not operate at a loss and they should rather be profitable to ensure their sustainability. In this case, the factors to be taken into consideration are not only operating and maintenance (O&M) costs, but also:

Maintenance scheduled according to regulations; Investments and their returns; Project development for all sectors (drinking, irrigation, wastewater) Renewal of installations Improvement of customer services Elements which should form part of salaries, like pension benefits and contribution to social

assistance Wastewater discharge costs. This element has never appeared in water tariffs but it was

subjected to a municipal tax. An adequate tariff structure should consider the socio-economic aspect of the actual economical situation of the country and we cannot double or triple tariffs overnight. It must be borne in mind that application of real tariffs, which reflect the effective cost of water supply, should be made progressively, accompanied with an awareness campaign to make people admit the “consumer payer” principle through a dialogue process between the population from one side and the RWE from the other side. Thus, we can state that we are still at the beginning of the road in the IWRM process in Lebanon

32

and that privatization, which has become an essential element of the economic policy of the Government, is driving towards the principles referred to above. In our opinion, new tariffs should consider the following criteria:

- recover the Operating and Maintenance costs for all water use sectors - consider the recovery of all investment costs for water use sectors - encourage the consumer to save water through an awareness process - not to disregard social equity.

To achieve these goals, in a first phase the GOL should continue to subsidise the RWE in a decreasing way, parallel to the improvement of their financial situation and budget equilibrium and progressively increase tariffs by category of consumers without forgetting the way of social equity.

Part IV- The Conceptual Framework of IWRM in Lebanon IV.1 Weaknesses of the present system The enforcement of the IWRM concept in Lebanon have several weaknesses that need to be addressed to mitigate the impact of water scarcity that will face the country in the coming two decades. Following the review of water laws and water rights, the Decennial Strategic Plan and the establishment of the four RWE, a number of weaknesses or constraints became apparent. These weaknesses which will be briefly discussed below can be grouped into three categories:

a. Institutional/administrative b. Technical c. Financial

The GOL has taken an important step in consolidating water resources management namely, domestic, municipal, industrial, irrigation and wastewater, under the same management in each of the 4 newly established RWE (with the exception of areas that fall within the jurisdiction of LRA). This represents a very important and necessary step towards adopting a holistic approach for managing water resources. The main institutional and administrative issues affecting the irrigation sector include:

• Delays in issuing executive Business plans for the new RWE to empower them with administrative and financial autonomy;

• Fragmentation and lack of cooperation or coordination of agencies in charge of water resource management: MOEW, LRA, RWE, CDR, MOA, MOE and local water committees which are still operational until now due to political interest and power are involved in water resource management with overlapping functions;

• The new RWE lack adequate technical staff needed to manage water resources, and have an excess of administrative staff; the RWE have focused their current efforts on supply of water for domestic, municipal and industrial uses;

• Lack of participation by the stakeholders in project design, implementation, or O&M, and the absence of Water User Associations (WUA) for the rearrangement of small and medium irrigation schemes projects.

33

• Lack of technical equipments for leakage measurements and lack of individual meters to measure water consumption by subscribers.

• Non existence of dispatching centers to control the distribution networks in order to ensure operation and transparency.

• Non operational of the newly established waste water treatment plant because of the absence of sewerage networks.

• Political involvement against ensuring operation & maintenance (O&M) of the water supply and sanitation services by the private sector under a Private Public Partnership (PPP). The latest management contract for Water Establishment of the North (city of Tripoli) was not renewed.

• Lack of adequate tariff structure that could take into consideration all water service sectors.

• Laws and regulations governing the water sector were promulgated under Ottoman and French codes have not been updated to deal with emerging issues such as acquired water rights, and legal framework for the establishment and operation of WUA. The new water code initiated by the French Government in 2004 was not yet proposed to the parliament commissions.

• Lack of enforcement of regulations regarding issuing permits for well drilling, distances between wells or drilling near springs. These regulations are subjected to modification by each MEW Ministers. Since 1996, seven modifications has been issued by the nominated Ministers.

All WAs share several common problems: delays in issuing their business plans and standardizing

legal, financial, and staffing affairs; delays in implementing of By Laws and RWE organigrams by the MOEW; the dearth of technical staff; very low procurement limits; inadequate budget and indebtedness; customers unpaid bills, lack of financial resources to improve the present networks and add new ones; many employees are near retirement; lack of maps showing water supply networks; high network losses; low collection rates (25 percent in Zahle, minimal in Baalbek, 45 percent in Tripoli); high debts and customers unpaid bills. In short, although RWE in principle have autonomy, they cannot yet operate on a commercial basis because of the absence of political decision and clear IWRM vision for the future.

It is worth mentioning that RWE are actively seeking a greater participation by the private sector in only water domestic resource management. The WE for North Lebanon has reached agreement with, and handed over to, a French company, the management of water distribution, O&M, and collections for the potable water system in Tripoli on a trial basis for two years but the contract was not renewed even thought the results were positive. The USAID already finance a study for the WE for South Lebanon to improve performance and financial position as a perquisite for privatization of management of the potable water system in Sidon. The chairman of the WA for the Bekaa expressed the desire for the private sector to assume responsibility for managing the water supply systems in Zahle and Baalbeck.

All WA chairmen share the same vision of eventually handing over management of only potable water systems in the main cities to the private sector. Unfortunately no efforts are expressed to the need for farmers to assume O&M functions of schemes that serve them through the establishment of WUA, to ensure their sustainability. However, this requires a legal framework to govern WUA and the amendments of Laws 221, 24 and 337. Also, no efforts have been made to prepare a technical and

34

administrative staff for wastewater treatment plant management and water reuse. Even thought the GOL and MOEW are commended for implementing IWRM concept by passing legislations and strategic plan for the planning, consolidation and improvement of water resource management. However, some areas that we have presented above still need attention in order to fulfill the requirements for IWRM mechanism. The next chapter identifies IWRM action plan to be applied as a road map for the success of the integration concept assessment.

a. Accelerate issuing the executive regulations and bylaws to empower the WAs with the autonomy envisaged by Water Law No. 221 of May 2002. The spending limit by the Chairman and the Board should be raised and reviewed periodically to enable the WAs to operate on a commercial basis;

b. Give WAs autonomy to appoint key technical staff to fill gaps in the present organization, and gradually phase out redundant administrative staff;

a. Pass legislation to update the laws regulating the water sector and provide a legal framework governing Water Users' Associations, and addressing the issue of acquired water rights, among other things

b. Involve stakeholders in the O&M functions; c. Enforce regulations and payment of penalties regarding well drilling and abstraction, including

distance between wells and from springs; d. Start/complete the computerization of customers data base including connections, Billings and

collections; and e. Enforce regulations related to water quality standards.

IV.2 The Conceptual Framework for IWRM in Lebanon The Concept of Integration

The Integrated Water Resource Management concept looks at the entire hydrological cycle and the interaction of water with the other natural and the socio-economic systems. The same water quantity can serve many different purposes and usages in different places and sectors. The sustainable use of water resources calls for the “overstepping” of the traditional boundaries: they must be viewed in a holistic way, balancing competing demands in the various sectors. “A systemic and integrated approach for decision making is required which recognizes the interdependence of the three main areas: environment, social stability and economic development. It also acknowledges the interrelationships among the included sectors.

More specifically, the concept of integration of policies on water management can be explained better when it is seen from two aspects: the horizontal aspect (cross sectoral integration) and the vertical aspect (sub-sectoral integration).

As far as the horizontal integration is concerned (integrating policies among various sectors) this involves the coordination and mutual coherence and ideally, compatibility of the objectives among different sectoral policies (in agriculture, industry, domestic sector, ecosystems). The concept of IWRM implies:

- That water issues within all economic and sectors should be considered in the overall management of water resources.

35

- Water policies must be integrated with economic as well as sectoral policies. - The strategies and policies of the various sectors must be assessed for possible impacts on water

resources and such assessments must be taken into account when planning and prioritizing development projects.

- The economic and social policies need to take into account the water resources implications. - The water resources management system must include cross-sectoral information exchange and

co-ordination procedures, as well as techniques for the projects assessments with respect to their implications for the water resources in particular and society in general.

- Consensus building among key stakeholders on actions needed towards making integrated sectoral policies is absolutely necessary.

It is also necessary to examine the effects of unsustainable water resources management on sectoral

priorities and prospects for the future. Evaluating the costs of ineffective water management and the benefits from an integrated approach for all the sectors involved could provide valuable support for further development and implementation of integrated policies.

The vertical integration of policies refers to a sub-sectoral approach. It suggests a comprehensive consideration and coordination between the different available policies such as economic and management instruments, legislation / regulation, institutional set up and technologies belonging to the same sector.

The vertical integration in IWRM looks for linking different components of the water resources, such as freshwater (surface and groundwater), upstream and downstream, national and international watercourses and coastal waters.

The development of river basin action plans including their aquifers is needed in order to integrate land use planning, water allocations, water monitoring with water management and conservation. The river basin management in Lebanon can serve as models of IWRM implementation, including the integration of water, land and other natural resources, and also managing issues of water quality – quantity, surface and underground water resources and upstream-downstream water interests.

Finally, we should highlight that the management approaches to be practiced should be adapted to each country region depending on its physical and environmental characteristics, intuitional and administrative systems, economic development and cultural values. Although the concept and principles of integrated water management are common, the strategies and tools may vary widely, even within the Middle Eastern region, according to the diverse socio-cultural, economic and environmental conditions of the various countries. IV. Applying IWRM in Lebanon: the Tools & Methods

It is evident that the prerequisite for preparing and implementing IWRM is a clear political will and the appropriate reform in the governance of water. Achieving a more effective governance of water requires a set of actions, such as those for:

• Setting sensible economic policies • Preparing clear legal/frameworks and strong regulations • Ensuring financial sustainability • Getting legitimacy and "ownership" by society

36

• Developing adequate administrative capacity to manage the resources

Management of the water resources involving legal and institutional tools should be suitable for all water sectors (drinking, irrigation, sanitary, flood mitigation and reuse). The application should be made with the involvement of scientific, technical, economical and financial instruments which are properly adapted for the social and cultural Lebanese environment. Integrated Water Resources Planning and Management (IWRP and IWRM) required greater collective awareness, solidarity and cooperation on all sides (Ministries, Water Establishment, Municipalities, Private Sectors, Regulatory Bodies, Donors Agencies). Water is a vital resource for Lebanon whether it is surface or underground and must be planned and managed in:

- a global integrated approach - with a quantitative, qualitative, coherent and balanced concept Attention should be made to long term planning and management for urban and rural development.

It is required to secure sustainable development. The specific management of each application of water should be efficient, harmonious and evolutively balanced involving a vast number of both public and private bodies partnership.

The key reforms that should be implemented in the coming 2-3 years can be summarized as follows:

- Updating of the 10 year strategic plan endorsed by the Lebanese Government and the Lebanese Parliament along with preparing an integrated Water Sector strategy with a clear vision under the concept of the Law 221, its amendment and the By laws published in October 2005..

- Preparing and approving a National Water Master Plan and a “Water Code”. - Improving the water sector governance by ensuring that all the necessary tools are put in place. - Strengthening the capacities of the MOEW and RWE to enable them to carry out in an efficient

and optimal way the tasks entrusted to them. - Ensuring that Operations & Maintenance (O&M) of the water supply and sanitation services are

contracted out to private operators and that the O&M of the irrigation small and medium schemes are gradually transferred to Water Users’ Associations WUA.

- Adopting an adequate tariff structure that would be based on costs and volumetric consumption taking into consideration an equitable tariff for the needed population.

- Preparing a short and medium term investment plan for the water sector taking into account the priorities and available funds.

The supply of drinking water in Lebanon should be guaranteed for everyone of the population.

At every level, water should be subjected to constant surveillance from the time it is harnessed up to the point it is returned to nature. The water quality should be guaranteed by the measurement of 63 parameters defined by the Lebanese Ministry of Health in compliance with WHO standards. Consumption of drinking water should be stable and the campaign against leaks (unaccounted for water) in network and the introduction of none effective household apparatus have to compensate for increasing demand resulting from demographic growth and improvement to people standard of living.

- Metering should be systematic in Lebanon: individual meters should be installed (or collective ones in the case or touristical or industrial building) to allow us to measure water consumption by subscribers who, a result feels more responsibility for their levels of consumption.

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- Dispatching centers should control all the distribution networks in order to ensure operation and transparency.

More than 70% of the water consumed in Lebanon is used for irrigation cultivated lands. This

proportion will increase as a result of demographic growth which is bound to bring an extension of cultivated land and intensification of crop farming.

In order to manage major irrigated zones in Lebanon, the MOEW and the RWE has to ensure the construction, exploitation and maintenance of water – related infrastructures (reservoirs, canals, galleries and networks). The RWE has to manage the big irrigation projects leaving for the water users associations (which should be integrated within the By laws the management of medium and small scheme projects). The MOA and NGO’s should offer consulting services to farmers with a view to more national use of water (incentives for water savings, good fertilization practices).

Water policy in industry and energy generation should targets better quantitative and qualitative management. The policy seeks to control the risks of chronic or accidental pollution. RWE should have substantial experience in the area of industrial pollution control. Consequently, waste from major industry aught to be well controlled.

The communication process with the Lebanese industry should lead the industrial companies to develop innovative process for the multi-site treatment of industrial effluent (problem of Litany and Jeita Catchment pollutions).

Throughout the whole world, increasing populations and the desire/demand for increasing quantities of water to satisfy expectations for higher standards of living have inevitably led to the recognition of the need to optimally use all waters and to maximize the reuse of treated waste waters.

Promoting the safe and efficient use of treated wastewater for environmental protection and public health safety, and encouraging the safe use of this renewable source of water shall constitute a new source for irrigation of non-edible crops (containing important nutrients for intensive agricultural practices), artificial recharge of the aquifers, as well as industrial water uses (for example, for cooling and process water needs).

On the other hand, the core issue for sustainable water resource usage is enhancing the water use efficiency and that water saving should be given higher priority than exploitation of new sources.

On the operational level, it would be advisable to draw a first outline of this water development action plan even if the required data is not completely available or dependable. This would serve as a tool for taking some forthcoming decisions and determine the steps needed to enforce IWRM. Progressively, this water action plan will be refined and at the same time allow to deal with the actual requirements in order to preserve the necessary water allocation to the Lebanese population.

The table shows the details of the horizontal and vertical integration for IWRM implementation in the Water Sector for Lebanon.

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IWRM Sector Reform Strategy

Sector Reform

Objectives Completed Actions Actions to be completed

by June 30, 2007 Actions to be completed by

December 31, 2007 Actions to be completed by

December 31, 2008 Reform Outcome – by December 2008

Principal Responsibil

ity Integrated Water Sector Strategy & Policy.

- CDR Development Programme 2006 – 2009. - EU Neighbourhood Policy. - Privatisation study « Société Générale », Rafik ElKhoury. - Report on Water Sector Policy and Action Plan, IPP Water. - Agriculture Sector Strategy (FAO/World Bank). - World Bank Water Sector Note. - World Bank Irrigation Sector Note.

- Cabinet approval of “ Water Code”.

- Preparation of the national water sector strategy and a Water Master Plan that would take into account: availability of water resources (irrigation, domestic & industrial) and Institutional, regulatory, financial & environmental aspects. - Public Expenditure Review of the water sector. - Benchmarking study & performance indicators (Unaccounted for Water, Cost recovery, collection rate, etc.). - Complete a study of modernization of Irrigation with MOA. - Complete a survey of users` satisfaction.

Government’s approval of Integrated Water Sector Strategy & Policy.

- National Water Master Plan. - “Water Code”.

MOEW in association with CDR/RWA/ MOA/ MOEnv. / Donors.

Improve Sector Governance.

- Law 221 and its amendments. - Decrees (By-Laws) October 2005. - Appointment of Boards and DGs for all the Water establishments.

- Finalize model organization under Law 221 for MOEW. - Reactivate the National Water Council.

- Cabinet decision to allow: * RWAs to recruit qualified staff. * Procure Works, Goods & Services with appropriate thresholds. * Management contracts with private operators.

- Establish mechanisms for tariff adjustments and service standards. - Establish a review process to define the roles of each stakeholder. - Initiate the process of handing over the O&M of small/medium irrigation schemes to Water Users’

- Adopt mechanisms for tariff adjustments and service standards. - Complete the process of handing over the O&M of small/medium irrigation schemes to Water Users’ Associations. - Finalize MOEW organization under Law 221. - Update RWAs Business Plans. - Study & draft water sector regulatory framework.

- Finalized regulatory Framework. - New organization of the MOEW set up. - Clear definition of roles & responsibilities of the various actors. - Establishment of Water Users Associations for irrigation. - Clear policy on cost recovery and subsidies for sector.

MOEW in association with CDR/ RWAs/Donors.

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Sector Reform Objectives

Completed Actions Actions to be completed by June 30, 2007

Actions to be completed by December 31, 2007

Actions to be completed by December 31, 2008

Reform Outcome – by December 2008

Principal Responsibil

ity Associations.

Capacity Building.

Law 221 and its amendments.

- Finalize training program for the RWAs staff with KfW, EU & WBI. - Prepare a detailed plan aimed at reinforcing MOEW, RWAs and LRA staffing & logistics.

- MOEW and RWAs to set measures to optimise O&M of water and wastewater facilities. - Bylaws of Law 221 fully implemented by RWAs. - Complete MIS in all RWAs. - Install an integrated financial & accounting system in RWAs.

- Recruitment of qualified staff in MOEW, RWAs and LRA.

- Completion of water establishments staffing plans, management and equipment tools.

Government, MOEW & RWAs /LRA.

PPP & Private Sector Participation.

- Tripoli Water Authority Management contract. - Baalbeck-Nabi Chit Service Contract (O&M). - O&M contracts for wastewater treatment plants under construction. - LWPP. - Consultant appointed to study PPP options for North Lebanon.

- Assess Tripoli management contract by independent party.

- Study PSP possibilities in Irrigation with Litani River Authority (LRA).

- Prepare a regulatory framework which includes dispute resolution. - Appoint a consultant to MOEW, CDR and RWAs to develop model Tender and Contract Documents for service, Management Contracts (with WB assistance) and Model Contracts for Regulation (GTZ).

- Set up of a regulatory body for the water sector. - Establish a regulatory framework which includes dispute resolution.

- Model Tenders for RWAs. - Service Contract launched for RWAs. - Regulatory body in place.

CDR in association with MOF, MOEW, RWAs

Sustainable Use of Water Resources.

MOEW 10 Year Programme: - Shabrouh Dam - Brissa Dam - Extension of Dbayeh Water Treatment Plant.

Finalizing the evaluation of tenders for Canal 800.

- Appointment of consultant to update the studies relating to Awali-Beirut Conveyor, Bisri Dam. - Appointment of a committee of experts to recommend guidelines for re-use of treated wastewater.

Secure finance for: - Boqaata, Assi, Nahr Ibrahim, Nahr El Bared & Bisri Dams. - Awali-Beirut Conveyor. - WSS O&M ( South & Bekaa regions) for RWAs.

Start construction of the Dams and the conveyor.

MOEW & CDR in association of MOF & MOA.

Strategy for Sanitation, and Targeting the Poor.

- Apply for GPOBA funding for targeted subsidies to low income communities. - Apply for BNWPP.

- Complete GPOBA study.

- Implement GPOBA. - Secure Donor funding for implementing recommendations of the feasibility studies for sanitation.

- GPOBA report and launching implementation.

MOEW in association with MOF/ CDR& RWAs.

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PART V- ACTION PLAN FOR IWRM ENFORCEMENT IN LEBANON V-1 Main Topics for a National Action Plan This study could initiate the main topics of an action plan aiming at defining an overall water policy. These topics can be summarized as follows:

Monitoring and Data Collection - Strengthen, optimize or put in place the measurement networks necessary for a better

knowledge of water resources (hydrometry, piezometry, water quality, …). - Better evaluate the water resources both underground and surface; particularly determine the

limits of exploitation of aquifers during the drought period. - Carry out an assessment of water withdrawal for different purposes and particularly, irrigation

and potable use; engage in putting in place metering device systems. - Develop an efficient system for data collection and management concerning resources,

demands, and all parameters affecting the balance directly or indirectly. Technico-economic studies:

- Continue with the studies of dam sites and hill lakes; - Assess the possibility of captage of submarine springs even though this solution is highly

expensive due to energy cost needed for pumping; - Establish a list of equipments needed to supply the various geographical regions: wells, river

intakes, basin to basin conveyance; and verify their feasibility. A more accurate water balance (demands v/s resources):

- Determine the water balance (demands v/s resources) for each geographic unit as far as new data is available, particularly, refine information related to the resource and include elements of sector policies that induce water demands.

- Alert persons in charge of these sector policies on the actual situation in the water sector in general and for irrigation in particular.

Efficient water management and protection:

- Find ways to rationalize and optimize water use in order to save this resource. Public awareness campaigns shall be set for that matter.

- Appreciate the vulnerability of the various water resources and put in place a strategy for protecting aquifers and rivers: wastewater collection and treatment, captage protection

- Study a reform of the water institutions and laws, aiming at reaching a better efficiency. A water policy to be adjusted periodically:

- establish an overall strategy, under the framework of a water development and management plan, incorporating all aspects mentioned above (in addition to others, such as flood prevention) in order to insure the consistency of the various actions and allow a maximum efficiency; put this plan in the frame of development master plan reflecting the national territorial development policy.

- Periodically adjust these various components (for example each 3-5 years), to take into account the effective growth of socio-economic characteristics of Lebanon and new objectives to reach. The following flow charts present the IWRM Enforcement plan to be carried out by MOEW and related GOL Institution

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The master plan of water management in Lebanon should consider the following chart of actions to be implemented for IWRM enforcement. These are structured under major themes:

1- Information System for the Water Sector 2- Adaptation of the Institutions 3- Economic Analysis 4- Health and Environment 5- International Basins 6- Projects

ACTIONS OBJECTIVES

A- Reactivate measurement networks: - Flow measurement of water courses during the drought - Validation of existing data - concept and execution of networks: - flows (springs and rivers) - levels (aquifers) - water quality

B- Data base: - management of hydrologic data - Geographic Information System for the water

C- Simulation models by watershed - prediction of resources during the drought period

Theme No.1: INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR THE WATER SECTOR

D- Show information on aquifers (3 aquifers are concerned)

General Study

1. Verify Balance in the actual situation 2. Upgrade the value of existing hydrologic

data 3. Collect additional data concerning surface

water resources, as well as the evolution of aquifers

1. Facilitate the access and the updating of water related information

2. Edit plans to assist in decision making

1. Anticipate drought situations 2. Assist in the evaluation of future water

balance

Evaluate the possibility of a more intensive use of aquifer water

Particular Study

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ACTIONS OBJECTIVES

A- Institutional study: - Diagnosis of the actual situation - propositions for the distribution of roles

A- Economic value of water: - Updating of the price for existing schemes - impact of the structures on the water cost - Principle of water tariffing in general

B- Economic data for hydro agricultural projects - National objectives for agricultural production - Cost effectiveness of irrigation for the farmer - Parameters for group productivity and

Theme No.2: ADAPTATION OF THE INSTITUTIONS

C- Economic evaluation of urgent projects(Ex: North and South Lebanon and North Bekaa)

General Study

1. Determine the role of the Government, the communities, the private sector, according to the projects importance (regulation, financing, execution and private public partnership )

1. Set the permissible limits of projects costs

2. Propose a tariffing system that includes preventive measures for pollution and spill.

Acquire basic elements for the economic evaluation of the projects case by case

Check the projects economic feasibility for the community, the farmers and the management units.

Particular Study

Theme No.3: ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

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ACTIONS OBJECTIVES

A- Setting of sanitary and environmental objectives:

- Diagnosis of the actual situation - Water quality objectives and criteria to be applied

B- Study of the protection of the main potable water intakes

- Actual chronic or accidental pollution - Recommended measures

H- Development of international rivers - evaluation of resources from Lebanon - Identification of projects of international use that could be executed in Lebanon

Theme No.4: HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

General Study

1. Establish priorities for the elimination of pollution

2. Set objectives to reconquest rivers, aquifers and swimming places

1. Identify proclaimed contaminations and risks

2. Protect water intake.

Already implemented with Syria for the Orontus and the Nahr el Kebir but still pending for the Jordan river.

Particular Study

Theme No.5: INTERNATIONAL BASINS

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ACTIONS OBJECTIVES

I- Definition and programming of hydraulic development projects within the 10 year plan

- Updating of existing studies - Master plan for water resources - Hydro agricultural master plan: - Water supply master plan for the coastal region - National wastewater master plan

Theme No.6: PROJECTS

N- Feasibility studies for dams within the 10 year plan - additional topographic, geologic and hydrologic studies - additional concept studies - Cost estimation

General Study

4. Allocate water resources according to location and usage.

5. Determine works and structure in a coherent approach

6. Establish a time frame for financing and execution

7. Undertake necessary studies when needed

1. Amend existing studies to reach a homogeneous level of precision, thus allowing a rational decision making

2. Eliminate non feasible projects or structures.

Particular Study

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V.2 Operational Level On the operational level, it would be advisable to draw a first outline of this water development

plan even if the required data is not completely available or dependable. This would serve as a tool for taking some forthcoming decisions and determine the steps needed to improve this plan. Progressively, these water policy documents will be refined and at the same time allow to deal with the actual requirements.

As a long term strategy, an integrated water resource management system is to be established. The broad objectives of this water management shall cover the utilization and development of water resources in an efficient, environmentally sound, equitable and reasonable manner in order to satisfy society's demand for water, water -related goods and services, as well as to safeguard the ecological functions of water resources. It aims at providing all users with sufficient amount of water, to guarantee efficiency in water usage by maintaining balance between supply and demand and by sustainable development of water and other related resources. Throughout the whole world, increasing populations and the desire/demand for increasing quantities of water to satisfy expectations for higher standards of living have inevitably led to the recognition of the need to optimally use all waters and to maximize the reuse of treated waste waters.

Promoting the safe and efficient use of treated wastewater for environmental protection and public health safety, and encouraging the safe use of this renewable source of water shall constitute a new source for irrigation of non-edible crops (containing important nutrients for intensive agricultural practices), artificial recharge of the aquifers, as well as industrial water uses (for example, for cooling and process water needs). On the other hand, the core issue for sustainable water resource usage is enhancing the water use efficiency and that water saving should be given higher priority than exploitation of new sources.

Bibliography 1- 2005 Book entitled ”The Loss and Exploitation of Water in Lebanon“ لبنان بين الضياع واالستثمار مياه 2- Comair, F; Lebanese Water Management. Second Regional Conference on “Water Supply and Demand Management and Pollution Control”. Sharm el Sheikh ,2003. 3- World Bank, Irrigation, Inception report, 2004. 4- Comair, F.; Lebanon Dialogue on Achieving Water-Related Millennium Development Goals and Targets of the World Summit for Sustainable Development. “Beirut Water Week organized in cooperation between the Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW), the Water Energy and Environment Research Center (WEERC), Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean (GWP), Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE), Mediterranean Component of the EU Water Initiative, Hellenic Ministry for Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), Mediterranean Education Initiative for Environment and Sustainability (MEdIES), Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO, Regional Office for Education in the Arab States and the Lebanese Commission of Catholic Schools”. Lebanon, 2005.

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