1. Optimization for Sustainable Water Resources
Lebanon Case Study The Lower Litani River Basin
Earth Link and Advanced Resources Development (ELARD) in cooperation with The Lebanese National Center for Remote Sensing (NCRS)
Malta October 28-29, 2004
Environmental and Water Resources Management Consultants
Lebanese National Center for Remote Sensing

2. 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

3. 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

4. DEFINITION OF IWRM
Integrated water resources management involves projects and actions aimed at :
Increasing the conservation of water and the efficiency in its use
Increasing complementarity and/or decreasing conflicts between competing uses, both in quantity and in quality, by managing both supply and demand
Enabling adequate organizations, regulatory frameworks (laws, policies, strategies, plans, programs and rules) and human resources
OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study

5. 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.
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6. Water Quality Management Deteriorated Water Quality
STRESSES Population growth, industrial, agricultural and touristic development, environmental and ecological needs, climate change, lack of awareness
Economic Instruments
Primary Effects
Water Quality Management
Deteriorated Water Quality
Increased Water Demand
Water Demand Management
Economic Instruments
Smaller Increase in Water Supply
Water Supply Management
Less Water of Adequate Quality Available
Secondary Effects
More complex management and insufficient capacity of institutions
Increased needs by local communities
Need for costly investments
Increased conflicts
Stakeholder participatory approach for conflict resolution
- Institutional and legal development - Capacity building - Private sector participation
- Community Involvement - Capacity Building
Private Sector Participation
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7. 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
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13. THE STAKEHOLDERS Public 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
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14. 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
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15. Water Uses and Users Irrigation / farmers
Domestic use/ local communities
Industrial use
Tourism / recreational
Environmental flow
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16. Driving Forces Population growth (new developing area)
Change in land use and development strategies
Technological change
Environmental needs
Climate change
Socio-economic conditions
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17. 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
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18. 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)
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19. SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths 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
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20. Data Needs / Constraints
Monitoring Need
IWRM Trinity Component
Comments
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 supply Water 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
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
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
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21. 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
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22. Thanks to all those who have put so much effort to organize this kick-off meeting (great job!)
Questions are welcome...
OPTIMA - Lebanon Case Study