In response to an alarming drop in rainfall and a looming summer water crisis, Lebanon’s Ministry of Energy and Water has launched a national campaign on Friday to encourage water conservation and raise public awareness.
The initiative seeks to rally citizens around smarter water usage as the country faces one of its driest years in recent history. The campaign, supported by the German government through the GIZ (German Agency for International Cooperation), will run across TV, radio, websites and public billboards.
“This is a national responsibility,” the ministry said in a statement. “With the support of the Lebanese people, we can better manage what limited water resources we have left.”
This effort comes as Lebanon sees rainfall totals drop to just 30% of the usual annual average. Meteorological reports show dramatic year-on-year decreases: Beirut fell from 520 mm in 2024 to 262 mm in 2025, Tripoli from 540 mm to 280 mm and Zahle from 285 mm to 152 mm.
Ideally, Lebanon's annual secondary water balance should fall between 750-800 mm for Beirut and Tripoli, while exceeding 1,200-1,300 mm in more mountainous regions.
The higher-than-average temperatures, fueled by climate change, have only worsened the situation by increasing evaporation rates and depleting already-stressed water supplies.
The water-saving campaign is part of a broader emergency plan coordinated by regional water establishments to mitigate the effects of the shortage expected during the peak of summer.
With water levels rapidly declining, the ministry hopes this public push will encourage every household to play a role in preserving what’s left before the taps run dry.
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