Hydro-‐political Baseline of the Upper Jordan River - Ibrahim Abd El Al

The high seasonal and inter-­‐annual variability assigns different values to each of the
tributaries, from a water resources management perspective. Mandated to deliver an
assured supply, water resource managers would clearly prioritise the much greater and
much more steady flows of the Liddan. The Banias and Hasbani flows may be seen as
‘surplus’ flows that are welcome during wet years, but which could not be relied upon. The
steady base flow portion of the Hasbani (which is provided by the Wazzani springs, not
upstream – Figure 3.5) would be a secondary reliable source.
3.2.3 Surface water quality
Data on surface or groundwater quality in Lebanon has not been consistently collected or
filed in Lebanon, and in Israel is very difficult to come by. Hasbani River water quality is
impacted by a number of sources. First, from the acidic residues of olive oil production that
are dumped in the mainstream, typically in late October and November. Where intensive
agriculture is practised, run-­‐off is also contaminated with fertilizers and pesticides. Domestic
wastewater is a third potential source of pollution, owing to a lack of a wastewater
collection network and inadequately drained household septic tanks. The very sparsely
populated and farmed areas over the Liddan and Banias basins tend to ensure relatively
good water quality there, while the water quality of Tiberias is affected by saline springs.
The UNDP (2007) and UNEP (2007) reports conducted in the wake of the 2006 war give an
indication of the poor water quality throughout Lebanon. The low population density and
level of industrial activity may account for the lack of major biological or heavy metal
contamination noted downstream in Israel. A greater potential concern is the pollution of
ground water, where hotspots close to water wells affect the quality of the domestic water
supply.
3.3 Hydrogeology, Springs and Groundwater Flows
The Upper Jordan River basin lies fully within the Syrian arc fold system that extends from
northern Egypt to northern Syria and Turkey. The anticline forms Mount Hermon and the
surrounding recharge areas and consists mostly of Jurassic limestone of a thickness of 2,000
– 2,700m (Brielmann 2008). Exposed to the west of Hermon, the aquifer provides quick
infiltration, and is a primary source of the Upper Jordan River flows.
Further south, the Huleh depression lies between two major faults: the Qiryat Shemona
master fault and the Jordan River fault. The western Qiryat Shemona fault splits into the
Yammouneh and Roum faults which tend north and north-­‐westward, respectively. The
Jordan River fault turns northeast and splits into the Sion-­‐Rachaya and Serjaya faults As
Brielmann (2008: 50) notes, the former of these “parallels the axis of the Hermon anticline,
divides the Hermon Massif into two main blocks: the western Sion shoulder and the central
and eastern Hermon Range, the latter comprising the Sirion and Hermon ridges”.
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