The Damour River Basin - Lebanon Case Study

Presented by Claude TABBAL “Conseil et Développement s .a .l .” LEBANON Overview of Damour River Basin z The DAMOUR RIVER BASIN area (333 km2) enjoys abundant surface & ground water resources compared to other basins in Lebanon:

8 The Damour Perennial river has a length of 40 kms. 8 ES SAFA SPRING contibttribute t o wat er 8 BAROUK SPRING discharge in winter 8 3Mi3 Minor ri vers: E s S af a, Z ebl e, El ElH Hamam z Damour has an agriculture profile INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 2 "LEBANON Case Study" Overview of Damour River Basin Water Management Issue

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 3 "LEBANON Case Study" Overview of Damour River Basin Water Management Issue

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 4 "LEBANON Case Study" Overview of Damour River Basin Water Management Issue (cont.)

DitifWPPblDescription of WP Problem Damour River Basin is facing a decrease in the total amount of surface & ground water of adequate quality necessary to serve the nee ds o f its diff erent d omesti c, agri cult ure & industrial users. The major reasons behind decrease & inadequate quality can bidfllbe summarized as follows: 9 Drop in precipitation levels 9 Over exploitation of ground water & surface water sources 9 Uncontrolled discharge of waste from domestic & industrial sources 9 Limited cappyacities of authority 9 Limited financial resources 9 Inter basin transfer of ground water 9 Sea water intrusion to groundwater INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 5 "LEBANON Case Study" Overview of Damour River Basin Water Managg()ement Issue (cont.)

Indicators relevant to the problem (cont.) z Poor cost recovery: difficulties for municipalities & water authorities to recover operational maintenance cost z Inexistence of environmental supervision from tutorial institution z Excessive quantity of water committed for inter basin transfer rendering Damour area more vulnerabl e: 340/400 l/cap ita /day. 80% o f the 16 wells pertaining to BMW are delivered or driven to Beirut and Ain Delbeh

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 6 "LEBANON Case Study" Overview of Damour River Basin Water Managg()ement Issue (cont.) Indicators relevant to the problem (cont.) z The detected Chemical Oxygen Demand COD levels confirm possible release of industrial wastes (olive pressing, stone cutting, asphalt production) z Tests carried out on water samples highlight the effect of pollution from sewage (presence of Fecal Coliforms exceeding standard values) z Since 2001, the reduction in total discharge at the mouth o f the ri ver h as reach ed 55% of t ot al annual yield

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 7 "LEBANON Case Study" Overview of Damour River Basin Water Managg()ement Issue (cont.)

Stakeholders z Several categories of stakeholders are ildithtinvolved in the water management problems and have direct or indirect reltilation & &i impact and are aff fftdbected by water problems:

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 8 "LEBANON Case Study" Overview of Damour River Basin WWtater M anagement tI Issue ( cont t).) Stakeholders Chart

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 9 "LEBANON Case Study" Overview of Damour River Basin Water Management Issue (cont.)

The current legislation & governance of water sector: A- Legislation z The Lebanese law governing the water sector dates back to Ottoman & French regime. The significance of sustainable water management urged policy makers to develop new laws: z Law # 221/2000 on management of water sector. This law aimed at inducinggg,y institutional changes, yet it is controversial & resulted in several draw backs (modification of laws, decrees & decisions often contradictory) z Law #444/2002 on environmental protection & sustainable use of natural resources & prevention of environmental pollution INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 10 "LEBANON Case Study" Overview of Damour River Basin Water Management Issue (cont.) B- Governance z The main authority responsible for Damour management resources is the Ministry of Energy andWd Wat er: 8 Setting planning framework for sustainable water management 8 Building dams z Beirut & Mount Lebanon water authority responsible for supplying potable water to its subscribe customers. z MOE controls sources of pollution z MOPH monitors safety of drinking water z CDR plays the role of mobilizing resources for the execution of contemplated projects INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 11 "LEBANON Case Study" CtEfftFPblCurrent Effort For Problem Mitigation z Efforts are being done to mitigate the water problems notlithDt only in the Damour regi ibton but on nati tilllonal level

Currentlyypp applied measures by authorities : z Creation of 4 new autonomous water boards to take over (within their respective areas):

8 Management * drinking water supplies 8 Operations of * sewage collection 8 Maintenance * irrigation network

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 12 "LEBANON Case Study" CtEfftFPblCurrent Effort For Problem Mitigation (cont.) z Damour River Basin operations were entrusted to Beirut & Mount Lebanon water authority z Damour municipality & neighboring municipalities have started beginning 2008 to enforce subscription to water networks including annual fixed fee per m3/day z Political, social & economical instability has dramatically impeded au thorities to stop illegal wells z Interbasin transfer activityyg is still increasing and quantities are threatening the Damour Basin acquifers

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 13 "LEBANON Case Study" Current Effort For Problem Mitigation (cont.) Curren tly appli liditittiled institutional and economi ilcal responses z In Damour River Basin, collection of charges is entrusted to municipalities whilst it is normally executed by Water Authority in other regions z Water charges are collected separately z Current base of metering water consumption: 1 cubic meter per day, i.e. 365m3/year z Volumetric components are defined my means of water gauges that calibrate outflow z Tariff is unique in Lebanon z Tariff in Damour reg ion : 100. 000 LBP (45 euro instead of 240.000 LBP/year) lumpsum per year as an exceptional economical alleviating measure

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 14 "LEBANON Case Study" CtEfftFPblCurrent Effort For Problem Mitigation (cont.) Currently applied institutional and economical responses (cont.)

z SfthtdiddldSome zones of the studied area are declared protected upstream the Damour River & water wells are restricted in these zones z However, economic consequence of this measure is the high cost of expropriation in the area z Extraction permits are subject to drastic conditions & require republican order or decree except for those under 150 meters depth & not exceeding 100 m3/day z Abstraction charges are fixed by a Ministerial decree that takes into consideration depth and flow

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 15 "LEBANON Case Study" INECO Participatory Process z The workshop held on September 12th 2007 gathered a panel of different stakeholders who participated in the debate on water problems and alternative solutions z A tentative analysis of the focal water management problem in the Damour River Basin had revealed different causes as displayed in the Focal Problem Tree:

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 16 "LEBANON Case Study" INECO Participatory Process (cont. ) Problem Tree

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 17 "LEBANON Case Study" INECO Participatory Process (()cont.)

During debates, STAKEHOLDERS focused on and pointed out the following problems: z Over exploitation of ground water resources by BWA z Over exploitation by upstream water users of the Damour River (farmers , restaurants, etc… ) z The contamination of up stream water uses of the Damour River z The increasing salinity of water because of excessive pumping

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 18 "LEBANON Case Study" INECO Participatory Process (()cont.) z Lack of water quantities for irrigation & domestic usage during drought season z No sufficient discharge standards to ensure proper treatment of domestic & industrial waste water prior to disposal in the river z Limited law enforcement z Absence of sewage network

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 19 "LEBANON Case Study" INECO Participatory Process (()cont.) z A tentative definition of Objectives for mitigating water stress in the Damour River Basin culminated in the following proposal on Objectives:

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 20 "LEBANON Case Study" INECO Participatory Process ((t)cont.) Objective Tree

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 21 "LEBANON Case Study" INECO Particippyatory Process (cont.) The objectives defined in collaboration with local stakeholders articulated around 4 main elements: z To secure necessary quantity & adequate qqyuality of surface & under ground water particularly during drought seasons z Rehabilitate infrastructure & reinforce monitori ng & cont ro l of i nstit uti ons over th e water matters z Stress on water pollution prevention z Allocation of water based on a comprehensive socio economic survey & analysis INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 22 "LEBANON Case Study" INECO Participatory Process (()cont.)

The alternative solutions were also examined by stakeholders & the following suggestions were formulated: z Secure water quantities by building the promised Dam on the Damour River z RdReduce i itnter b asi n wat er t ransf er z Limit the underground wells z Prevent pollution by creating water treatment plants

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 23 "LEBANON Case Study" INECO Participatory Process (()cont.)

z Prevent misuse of water & limit violation & illegal use z Rehabilitate infrastructure net & install canalization instead of open air z Install water meters z Implement liability system z Create citizen awareness via campaigns on usage of water and pollution prevention

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 24 "LEBANON Case Study" Evaluation of Options by Local Stakeholders and Comments z The questi onnai res di st rib ut ed t o th e different categories of stakeholders revealdled a convergence of opi iinions with regards to water problems & their soltilutions :

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 25 "LEBANON Case Study" Evaluation of Options by Local Sta ke ho lders an d Commen ts 90% 79 % 79 % 80% 77% 77%

70% 67% 64% 56% 60% 46% 50%

40%

30% 27% 26%

20%

10%

0% s s f n n g uts ricin ment uctio s ion o ystems harge ns bsidies erative control nts ement ipatio tt tt ss pp pp uu dd cc ss ee oo cc uu pp && S Water agreem and taxe operati Liability Liability agreemen inputs/out Market instr Command- Decentraliza water manag parti Public Taxes on pro Taxes oluntary/coo Environment Environment VV

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 26 "LEBANON Case Study" INECO Particippyatory Process (cont.) z If compared with the checklist on alternative instruments, opinions & solutions expressed by stakeholders can be listed as follows: 8 Pricing of water seems not to be problematic, consequently installation of water meters will be accepted & tariff structure could be revised on different level basis, provided it does not exceed logical limit 8 A possible differentiation among customers would be envisageable by setting one fixed ch(l)dharge (low) and one mobil e 8 Cost recovery would ameliorate substantially to reach sustainability

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 27 "LEBANON Case Study" INECO Particippyatory Process (cont.) z Command & Control which implies establishment of discharge permit system, penalty & sanction , implementing of technology standard would be easy to adopt z Market based instruments are not a preferred nor apprecitdiated opti on. St Stkhldakeholders i gnore such option & are not currently applied in Lebanon for different socio-economic reasons z Voluntary agreements: Though not currently implemented in Lebanon, yet this option rallies 67% of stakeholders preference z Implementing of such agreements would have a certain economical impact & would necessitate compensations & financing policies INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 28 "LEBANON Case Study" INECO Participatory Process (()cont.) z Decentralization remains a must & a most wanted solution to enable water management solution & development to go forth z Public participation is very well wished & stakeholders are willing to be involved in solving water problems & secure their water z Last but not least, taxes on production output & input are least preferred & not envisaged so far, particularly environment taxes and charges z Public participation rallies all categories of stakeholders & hopefully will not remain a wishful thinking

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 29 "LEBANON Case Study" Meetings & Workshops

Dedicated meetings to Water Management problems in the Damour River Basin area: z INECO Wor ks hop on 12/09/07 z Follow-up meetings with Damour & Meshref municipalities (October 2007, January 2008) z Preparatory meeting & distribution of questionnaires to stakeholders (Meshref: April 2008)

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 30 "LEBANON Case Study" Proposals for WM solutions

z The proposals that won the stakeholders approval on Water Management problems &solutions :

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 31 "LEBANON Case Study" Proposals for WM solutions (cont.)

Building dam

Limit ext racti ons

Install Watermeters

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 32 "LEBANON Case Study" Proposals for WM solutions

Law Enforcement

Community Respect Prevent Pollution to Rules INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 33 "LEBANON Case Study" THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

INECO Workshop - Tunisia - 15/7/08 34 "LEBANON Case Study"