The World Bank (WB) announced on Wednesday that “the World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved financing of $257.8 million to improve water supply services in Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon.”
In a statement, it was indicated that “the second Greater Beirut Water Supply Project aims to complete vital water infrastructure, improve its quality, and reduce reliance on costly private water sources, while also supporting the implementation of reforms to enhance the sector's long-term performance.”
“Although Lebanon benefits from one of the highest levels of rainfall in the Middle East and North Africa region, it faces water shortages, largely due to the seasonal concentration of rainfall and insufficient surface water storage. Climate change could reduce water availability during the dry season by half by 2040, and floods and droughts are expected to intensify,” the report stated.
Furthermore, due to the multiple crises Lebanon has faced in recent years, financial and developmental challenges have severely hindered effective planning, implementation, maintenance of water infrastructure and the achievement of sustainability in sector services.
The statement explained that the second Greater Beirut Water Supply Project builds on progress made under the first project and will fund the completion of water supply infrastructure initiated earlier, as well as repair water systems damaged by conflict.
The project will also finance necessary expansions to the Wardaniyeh water treatment plant to improve water quality in response to anticipated increases in pollution levels at various times of the year. It aims to expand water supply to cover approximately 1.8 million people living in Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon. This infrastructure investment will increase surface water supply to meet an average of 70% of demand during the dry season, a 24% increase.
“The Greater Beirut Water Supply Project II reflects the World Bank’s continued commitment to supporting Lebanon's long-term development needs, despite recent conflict and recurring crises,” commented Jean-Christophe Carret, the World Bank's Regional Director for the Middle East.
He added that the project aligns with the World Bank's strategic approach to Lebanon, prioritizing sustained support for social protection programs and essential services while supporting climate-resilient investments that strengthen public institutions in Lebanon, enhance the reliability of basic services and lay the groundwork for economic recovery and sustainable growth.
The Greater Beirut Water Supply Project II will also advance the water sector reform agenda. The Ministry of Energy and Water recently completed its 2024-2035 National Water Sector Strategy. “The project will help support ongoing reform efforts in line with the national water sector strategy. It will also support the implementation of critical measures to improve the efficiency of the Beirut and Mount Lebanon Water Establishment, including reducing water losses, digitizing operations and workflows, improving billing and collection systems, and enhancing operational management practices,” Carret added. These measures and procedures are expected to indirectly benefit all recipients of services from the Beirut and Mount Lebanon Water Establishment.
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