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In
Lebanon, the INECO project will focus on the issue of the
decrease in the total amount of surface and
groundwater of adequate quality required for meeting th e
water needs of domestic, agricultural and industrial users,
experienced in the Damour River Basin. The problem is particularly experienced in the
downstream irrigated coastal plains of Damour, where
farmers complain about the shortage of water during
the summer season, as water is abstracted upstream
and there are no rules governing water allocation.
Groundwater resources are also under stress due to
the significant abstractions, especially for
inter-basin transfer. The Damour municipality has
repeatedly expressed its concern about the increased
salinity of groundwater.
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The focal problem is caused by several
factors including uncontrolled discharges of industrial and
domestic wastewater in surface water, uncontrolled surface
water allocation, and seawater intrusion in groundwater.
These are in turn attributed to limited law enforcement,
inadequate regulatory instruments, limited capacities of
authorities (particularly for law enforcement), limited
financial resources, absence of a clear planning framework,
absence of a participation and coordination platform, and
limited monitoring activities.
Furthermore, inter-basin
transfer of groundwater (to the greater Beirut
region) is leading to the deterioration of
groundwater quality in the coastal aquifer. All the
above can also be attributed to the lack of
awareness and technical capacity, to social and
political pressure from user groups, and to lack of
integrated management of the water resources of the
area. It is expected that the focal problem
could further lead to an increased number of
conflicts among water users, and to increased social
costs incurred from health problems associated with
the use of polluted water.
Lebanon Section of the INECO web site
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