2005 - 2006 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012

LEBANON PART 2: COUNTRY ANALYSIS
Lebanon
The civil war’s legacy lingers on
The civil war effectively obliterated Lebanon’s water and sewerage treatment facilities. By 1996, all
sewage effluents were discharged untreated, while in 2001, it was estimated that 60-70% of the
country’s water distribution capacity needed to be rehabilitated. Prior to the civil war, 95% of the
country was covered by basic water services. Lebanon has a nominal water treatment capacity of
385,000 m 3 per day, equivalent to 70% of the minimum daily requirement, but in 1998, 80% of
drinking water was not subject to treatment. Distribution losses are in the region of 50%. A number of
primary treatment facilities with sea outfalls are being developed for the coastal zone with the short
term aim of all wastewater to be subject to primary treatment. Secondary treatment plants are
planned for inland areas where the effluent from these plants will be used for specific agricultural
uses.
Domestic consumption of water in the country as a whole was 60L per capita per day in 1997,
compared with 150L per capita per day in Beirut. Much of the water supply is only chlorinated or not
treated at all where it is withdrawn from the ground water. In 1998, 70% of Lebanon's fresh water
sources were found to be subject to bacteriological pollution, mainly due to household effluents and
industrial pollution. Water demand was 1.48 billion m 3 in 1998 and is forecast to rise to 2.84 billion m 3
in 2015, although internal resources are only 2.2 billion m 3 per annum.
The UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia believes that Lebanon could see serious
water shortages by 2025 unless losses are curbed. Lebanon has 2.85 billion m 3 of water per annum,
25% in underground reserves. In 2000, the country used 1.14 billion m 3 , mostly on agriculture, and
demand is expected to rise to 4 billion m 3 by 2025. Much of the water is wasted or contaminated
through pesticide use and industrial pollution. Only 40% of Lebanese domestic customers pay for
their water, and the income is not enough to cover operation and maintenance costs. Water tariffs
have been increased by 40% in Beirut since 1994, but these only cover 70% of operating costs.
Some industrial facilities (and hospitals) have water meters installed. For household use, the current
pricing policies have one unified price per cubic metre per day for all household connections within a
given water authority's jurisdiction. The regional authorities are to install water meters to house
connections and to develop pricing policies that reflect individual household usage rather than fixed
per day water supply. In addition, pricing policy is to reflect investment costs.
Capital spending plans
Since 1996, the Lebanon has received US$600 million in donor funding for rehabilitating water
services. Longer term, US$750 million needs to be spent on coastal sewage treatment plants,
US$1.0 billion on inland facilities and US$1.152 billion on sewerage networks. A further US$1,000
million for water treatment and distribution has been identified. The Government is proposing
financing the construction of a US$200-220 million 260,000m 3 per day water treatment plant and
pipeline for Beirut through a 28 year concession have been delayed due to political concerns. The
World Bank has supported this project and seven consortia had pre-qualified at the time of the
postponement in 2002.
A reformed water management system
The 22 water authorities have been rationalised into four and USAid is supporting capacity building
measures in a four year programme running from 2002. All of these authorities will in turn be
expected to develop regional integrated land and water management. USAid aims to encourage
private sector investment in its programme.
Suez Ondeo has been appointed to manage water and wastewater systems in the city of Tripoli for
four years from 2003. The contract, which is being financed by a US$21 million soft loan from
France’s Agence Française de Développement, provides for Ondeo to repair and expand WWTPs
and water supply networks.
In 2004, the Government announced plans to "transfer the full cost of providing water supply and
sewage disposal services from the state to consumers through an equitable tariff and collection
system" but only Sidon Water Authority has domestic water meters that charge on a volumetric basis.
134 Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2005 – 2006