Optimization for Sustainable Water Resources

Lebanon Case StudyThe Lower Litani River Basin

Earth Link and Advanced Resources Development (ELARD)Earth Link and Advanced Resources Development (ELARD)in cooperation within cooperation with

The Lebanese National Center for Remote Sensing (NCRS) The Lebanese National Center for Remote Sensing (NCRS)

MaltaMaltaOctober 28-29, 2004October 28-29, 2004

Environmental and Water ResourcesManagement Consultants

Lebanese National Center forRemote Sensing

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

OUTLINE

Introduction Integrated Water Resources Management Description of Case Study Key Stakeholders Main Water Uses and Users Driving Forces Water issues and challenges SWOT analysis Data requirements and constraints Conclusions

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

INTRODUCTION

This case study will be prepared by ELARD, a regional consulting firm in the fields of environmental and water resources management based in Lebanon, in cooperation with the Lebanese National Center for Remote Sensing (NCRS)

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

OBJECTIVES OF IWRM

To conserve water through a more efficient allocation of the resource and protection of its quality;

To solve conflicts among competing uses and users; To account for the social, economic and environmental

value of water; To increase the participation of communities and the

private sector in decision-making and financing.

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

STRESSESPopulation growth, industrial, agricultural and touristic development, environmental and ecological needs, climate change, lack of awareness

Primary Effects

Deteriorated Water Quality

Increased Water Demand

Less Water of Adequate Quality Available

Smaller Increase in Water Supply

Secondary Effects

Increased conflictsMore complex management and insufficient capacity of institutions

Increased needs by local communities

Need for costly investments

Stakeholder participatoryapproach for

conflict resolution

- Institutional and legaldevelopment

- Capacity building- Private sectorparticipation

- CommunityInvolvement

- Capacity Building

Private SectorParticipation

Water QualityManagement

Water DemandManagement

Water SupplyManagement

EconomicInstruments

EconomicInstruments

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

DESCRIPTION OF CASE STUDY

The Lebanon case study covers the lower Litani River Basin

It is part of the area that has been recently liberated from Israeli occupying forces

It is therefore prone to extensive development, hence important stresses on water resources are anticipated and conflicts among different users likely to occur

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

THE STAKEHOLDERSPublic Authorities / agencies

– MoEW (Ministry of Energy and Water)– South Lebanon Water and Wastewater Establishment– LRA ( Litani River Authority)– MoE (Ministry of Environment)– MoPWT (Ministry of Public Works and Transport)– MoPH (Ministry of Public Health)– MoA (Ministry of Agriculture)– MoSA (Ministry of Social Affairs)– Lebanese Meteorological service

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

THE STAKEHOLDERS (cont’d)Research bodies

– NCSR, NCRS– Universities

Local communities– Municipalities – NGOs

Private Sector / users– Farmers, COOPs– Industries– Consultants, water resources experts, water utility companies (?)

International Organizations– UNIFIL, USAID

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

Water Uses and Users

Irrigation / farmers

Domestic use/ local communities

Industrial use

Tourism / recreational

Environmental flow

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

Driving Forces

Population growth (new developing area) Change in land use and development strategies Technological change Environmental needs Climate change Socio-economic conditions

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

Water Issues and Challenges

Inadequate legal and institutional frameworks with proper enforcement mechanisms

Lack of know-how of "Decision-makers" “Non-coordination" among institutions Lack of proper "pricing" framework Lack of "dissemination" of information to different

stakeholders

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

Water Issues and Challenges (cont’d)

Lack of human resources capable of addressing water management issues

Lack of participatory structures with active community involvement

Lack of sound environment for private sector participation

Lack of sufficient data on quantities, quality, demand, climate, etc. (lack of monitoring data)

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

SWOT ANALYSISStrengths Availability of groundwater Presence of major surface water courses Presence of Litani River Authority that manages

major irrigation projects Limited industrial activities Acceptable level of urbanization Feasibility study for water supply in the area

already prepared

Weaknesses Peak demand for irrigation occurs during summer

when water is least available Old water supply infrastructure leading to

excessive losses Lack of wastewater management infrastructure Lack of adequate monitoring data for proper

assessment of water resources Insufficient level of awareness and knowledge of

best management practices in agriculture Inadequate water pricing and lack of economic

incentives for efficient water use and less polluting practices

Opportunities• Interest from international funding sources in the

development of the new liberated south leading to potential financial assistance that can be used in water resource management activities/projects

• Trend towards privatization

Threats Attraction of new investments that could pose a

stress to water resources if not properly planned Sensitivity to geo-political context that hinders

economic development

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

Data Needs / ConstraintsMonitoring Need IWRM Trinity

ComponentComments

Meteorological data Water supply Data on precipitation, humidity, solar radiation, temperature, wind speed and direction are important to assess the water resources and perform accurate water balances; data on snow cover is also very important and is completely non-existent; meteorological data is limited in the area and poses a severe limitation to reliable water resources management plans

Surface water gauging data Water supplyWater demand

The LRA maintains a network of river limnigraphic stations that are used to measure rivers flow; it is important to upgrade this network to include more stations along the different rivers to be able to track upstream diversions and monitor river discharge, which is important in water balance estimations

Groundwater level Water supplyWater demand

Groundwater level is not systematically monitored; such data is very important to assess the level of water exploitation and monitor groundwater use

Water consumption Water demand Metering systems should be instituted for different water uses including domestic and agriculture; this would represent a first step towards controlling water losses, and moving towards a water pricing mechanism that would encourage water savings

Surface water and groundwater quality

Water quality There is no systematic monitoring of surface or groundwater quality in the country;

Effluent monitoring and compliance monitoring

Water quality Compliance monitoring is very important to secure water quality; while standards were developed for effluents discharge in water bodies, little has been done to ensure compliance to these standards

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

CONCLUSIONS

Data needed for optimisation of water resources is not readily available

There are also numerous challenges beyond technical ones towards a sustainable water resources management in the area (legal, institutional, economic, social)

This case study should serve however as an important example / model to be replicated in other river basins in the country

OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

Thanks to all those who have put so much effort to organize this kick-off meeting (great job!)

Questions are welcome...