
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved financing of US$257.8 million to enhance water supply services in the Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon region. The Second Greater Beirut Water Supply Project (SGBWSP) aims to finalize essential water infrastructure, improve water quality, lessen dependence on expensive private water sources, and promote reforms to boost the efficiency and sustainability of the water sector.
Lebanon, despite its high precipitation levels in the MENA region, struggles with water shortages due to the seasonal nature of rainfall and inadequate surface water storage. Climate change is projected to reduce dry-season water availability by half by 2040, while also exacerbating floods and droughts. Additionally, ongoing crises have severely hindered effective planning, implementation, and maintenance of water infrastructure, compromising the sustainability of water services.
The SGBWSP builds on the achievements of the initial Greater Beirut Water Supply Project. It will fund the completion of bulk water infrastructure started under the first project and repair any damage caused by conflicts. The initiative will also finance enhancements to the
Water Treatment Plant to improve water quality in response to rising pollution levels throughout the year.
The goal is to expand water supply coverage for the 1.8 million residents of Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon, significantly reducing reliance on private water tankers, which can cost up to ten times more. This investment in infrastructure aims to increase surface water supply to meet an average of 70% of demand during dry seasons, up from the current 24%.
“The Second Greater Beirut Water Supply Project demonstrates the World Bank’s ongoing commitment to Lebanon’s long-term development needs, despite recent conflicts and ongoing crises,” stated Jean-Christophe Carret, World Bank Middle East Country Director. “This project aligns with the World Bank’s strategic approach in Lebanon, which prioritizes support for essential social protection and services while promoting climate-resilient investments that strengthen public institutions, enhance the reliability of vital services, and lay the groundwork for economic recovery and sustainable growth.”
The SGBWSP will also advance the agenda for water sector reform. The Ministry of Energy and Water has recently completed its National Water Sector Strategy (NWSS) for 2024-2035, established six new water decrees to enhance groundwater regulation, licensing, and enforcement, and introduced tariff adjustments due to currency devaluation.
The project will support the ongoing reform efforts aligned with the NWSS, focusing on implementing crucial efficiency measures within the Beirut and Mount Lebanon Water Establishment (BMLWE). These measures include reducing water losses, digitizing processes, improving billing and collection systems, and enhancing operational management practices, which are expected to benefit all BMLWE customers indirectly.
By addressing operational and commercial inefficiencies, the project will aid the financial recovery of the BMLWE and improve the reliability of public water services, contributing to the sector’s overall sustainability and reducing dependence on external financing over time. Sectoral reforms will continue to be closely coordinated with development partners involved in Lebanon’s water sector.
Source :World Bank