Lebanon between thirst and reform

From a country once known as the “Land of Rivers and Springs” to one now facing the threat of thirst, Lebanon is enduring one of the worst water crises in its modern history. After decades of mismanagement, pollution, and unchecked encroachments, the Ministry of Energy and Water is striving to turn the page through an institutional and technical reform strategy extending through 2035.

From Collapse to transformation

The year 2025 marked a record low in drought levels: water inflows to Lake Qaraoun dropped to just 45 million cubic meters, compared to an average of 350 million cubic meters in previous years, while roughly 61 million cubic meters of contaminated water remained unfit for consumption or irrigation, according to a July 2025 report by the Litany River Authority. Data from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) shows that over 40% of Lebanon’s surface water sources are polluted, while hydroelectric power stations are operating at minimum capacity further aggravating the country’s electricity crisis. Yet amid this collapse, the ministry has launched a race against time to address the crisis through an integrated environmental, technical, and governance reform plan, developed in partnership with the World Bank, the European Union, and UNDP.

The National water strategy 2024–2035

In 2024, the ministry unveiled the National Water Strategy, a ten-year roadmap designed to move Lebanon from crisis management toward sustainable water governance.

The strategy is anchored on four main pillars:

1. Water Security and Storage: Rehabilitating existing networks and dams while expanding storage capacity.

2. Services and Sanitation: Developing wastewater treatment plants and reducing water losses by 30% within five years.

3. Financial and Institutional Independence: Empowering regional water establishments to collect revenues and operate autonomously, free from political interference.

4. Transparency and Data: Launching a digital platform to monitor dams and pumping stations in real time, supported by quarterly public reports. 

A cornerstone of this strategy is the Greater Beirut Water Supply Project – Phase II, approved in January 2025 and financed by the World Bank for $257.8 million, with disbursements tied to measurable, results-based reforms.

Neglected dams… and quiet reforms

Lebanon’s dams reflect decades of neglect and mismanagement but also a chance for renewal. Once symbols of progress, they now stand at the center of the Energy Ministry’s push for accountability, rehabilitation, and sustainable reform.

Qaraoun dam: The polluted heart of the Litani

Built in 1959 on the Litani River with a capacity of 220 million cubic meters, Qaraoun is Lebanon’s largest dam vital for both irrigation and power generation. However, decades of industrial and urban pollution have transformed it into a major environmental hazard. In coordination with UNDP and the Litani River Authority, the ministry has initiated a phased rehabilitation plan that includes sediment removal, aeration, and industrial wastewater treatment. The first phase, funded by the EU and GIZ (German Development Agency), is scheduled to begin in 2026. “The crisis has become an opportunity to rebuild Lebanon’s water management on scientific foundations,” said a senior hydrology expert involved in the project.

Mseilha dam: From ambitious project to court case

Launched in 2014 to supply North Lebanon, the Mseilha Dam in Kfarhalda–Batroun later faced allegations of technical and financial irregularities. In 2024, the judiciary suspended the project after uncovering structural flaws and inflated costs, prompting the public prosecutor to open an official investigation. The ministry pledged full cooperation with the courts, stressing the importance of “distinguishing between past administrative errors and the current reform-driven approach,” and confirmed that all future projects “will undergo independent technical and financial audits in line with international standards.”

Bisri dam: failed oversight and lost opportunity

The Bisri Dam, intended to supply Beirut with 125 million cubic meters of water, was cancelled in 2020 after the World Bank withdrew funding due to a failed environmental assessment and lack of transparency. The ministry has since incorporated the Bisri experience into its new strategy as a cautionary lesson, pledging that no future project will proceed without comprehensive environmental and community approval.

Jannah Dam: A source of hope for mount Lebanon

Located on the Ibrahim River in the Ftari–Jannah area, the dam’s construction began in 2013 with a capacity of 38 million cubic meters.  Despite delays and technical reviews, it remains a cornerstone project for water security in Keserwan and Jbeil, now undergoing regular environmental and structural audits by Lebanese and international experts.

International cooperation: Reform through partnership

The Ministry of Energy and Water operates within a broad framework of international collaboration that includes:

World Bank and European Union – financing and reform design

UNICEF and UNDP – improving water distribution and governance

French Development Agency (AFD) – supporting solar-powered pumping initiatives

Among its flagship efforts is the “Water for All” initiative, aimed at providing water to vulnerable areas in Bekaa and Akkar through solar systems and mobile storage tanks.

Transparency and accountability: From slogans to practice

The ministry has mandated that all water establishments publish quarterly public reports detailing revenues, supply hours, and maintenance activities.

Meanwhile, the Court of Audit has begun reviewing previous projects to recover public funds an unprecedented move in the sector’s history. “Reform doesn’t mean evading the past it means confronting it with facts and data,” said a senior ministry official, adding that this marks “the first serious attempt to build a modern water sector in Lebanon.”

From Chaos to modern management

Despite persistent financial and climatic challenges, World Bank experts note that Lebanon is finally shifting from improvisation to scientific management.

The ministry’s new approach is guided by accountability, technology, and transparency, transforming water projects from politicized files into structured, results-oriented programs.

Lebanon’s water crisis will not be solved overnight but a new chapter is being written in the history of its battered water sector. Its title: “Reform Through Evidence and Science, Not Slogans.”