**5. Conclusion and discussion**

It is a paradox that the estimated water availability in Lebanon is about 1350 m3 /year, while the demand does not exceed 220 m3 /capita/year. Besides, water supplied by the government sector does not exceed 35–40% of the total demand, which is equivalent to about 83 m3 /capita/year [21]. The rest needed amount of water is often managed by the consumers, and this adds more financial commitments notably for the people with limited income.

The country is witnessing one of the most severe conditions in the water sector and challenges on water resources have been exacerbated day after day. The majority of challenges include: limited water supply and water impurity. Therefore, people in Lebanon are always complaining about water shortage as well as its quality.

Based on the analyzed data, the following is a summary on the challenges of water resources in Lebanon.

1.Challenges on water volume:

	- It can be said that water from all rivers in Lebanon is polluted. For example, heavy metals content is very high in the river where Cr is 5 times above the norms and Cu level 800 times than the norms [22]. The existing pollution makes it difficult to use river water for domestic use, and this was also compensated by looking for alternative sources of pure water.

**99**

*Striking Challenges on Water Resources of Lebanon DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.81878*

• Groundwater contamination (biologicallyor chemically) is well pro-

• Surface water bodies are also contaminated. The Qaraoun Reservoir, the largest of its type in Lebanon, is witnessing severe quality deterioration, and

thus toxic bacteria have been reported in the Qaraoun Reservoir [23].

• There is a change in agricultural practices, mainly including planting of new crops that are tolerant to dryness, and this resulted problems in the agronomical marketing. The cost of many filed crops has been lately doubled.

• Insufficient water motivated farmers to use excessive amounts of fertilizers and chemicals and this in turn added contamination to the shallow groundwater and then to crops. This influences the food security in Lebanon since

• Water deficit for irrigation, by about 30–40%, created unfavorable socioeconomic and demographic changes from the rural to urbanized areas, notably to the coastal zone which comprises more than 70% of Lebanon's

• Insufficient water supply postponed several hydro-power stations in

1.Awareness and advises for better use of water should be introduced to

ing and the use of non-conventional water sources.

and combating water pollution, notably in surface water.

mitigate the chaotic and irresponsible use of water.

tions and their impact on water resources.

2.The existing strategies (i.e., The National Water Strategy of Lebanon) and

3.Promoting alternative water sources with a special emphasis on water harvest-

4.Coordination between different intuitions and government bodies related to

5.Adopting systematic water quality investigation on the major water sources

7.Adaptation instruments must be implemented for the changing climatic condi-

8.Applying efficient irrigation system to reduce the amount of water used for

6.Applying economic water policies (e.g., tariffs, water metering, etc.) to

Based on the existing challenges, however, the following recommendations can

which has been lately become commercial issue.

10–15% of these crops contain heavy metals [24].

3.Challenges in water-agricultural-food nexus:

population.

Lebanon.

consumers.

water sector.

irrigation.

policies should be adopted.

be suggested:

nounced, notably in shallow aquifers. Thus, most people fixed water filters,

*Hydrology - The Science of Water*

**5. Conclusion and discussion**

is equivalent to about 83 m3

water resources in Lebanon.

1.Challenges on water volume:

2.Challenges on water quality:

120–150\$/month on average.

about 1500–2000\$ has been added.

/year, while the demand does not exceed 220 m3

notably for the people with limited income.

m3

changes, and certainly change in climate and new water demands. The unfavorable situation has made it difficult to implement any economic policy in order to regulate water consumption and collect financial resource to develop the water sector.

It is a paradox that the estimated water availability in Lebanon is about 1350

plied by the government sector does not exceed 35–40% of the total demand, which

The country is witnessing one of the most severe conditions in the water sector and challenges on water resources have been exacerbated day after day. The majority of challenges include: limited water supply and water impurity. Therefore, people in

Based on the analyzed data, the following is a summary on the challenges of

• The decreased volume of discharge from rivers and springs (about 55–60%) and the lowering of lakes' capacity (up to about 65%) have resulted in shortage in water supply, which is estimated at 50–55%. This has obligated consumers to look for new supply sources (i.e., buying water) costing them

• Groundwater volume in the major aquifers of Lebanon has declined by 35–40%. This implies lowering of water table (30–35 m) and decrease in its pumping rate. This makes it necessary to increase the depth of drilled boreholes in order to attain sufficient amount of water. Therefore, a cost of

• Most wetlands in Lebanon are dried or have lost their unique ecosystems to water deficit and climatic variability. This leads to loss of the economic value of these lands, especially most of them have become abandoned.

• Water supply by the government sector is less than 35% of water demand and this has resulted in several financial and socioeconomic problems.

• The decreased water level in the Qaraoun Reservoir, the largest artificial water body in Lebanon, by about 45–48% has affected the hydropower generation from the reservoir, estimated at 238 megawatt, which is equiva-

• It can be said that water from all rivers in Lebanon is polluted. For example, heavy metals content is very high in the river where Cr is 5 times above the norms and Cu level 800 times than the norms [22]. The existing pollution makes it difficult to use river water for domestic use, and this was also

lent to about 10.5% of electricity needs of Lebanon [1].

compensated by looking for alternative sources of pure water.

is often managed by the consumers, and this adds more financial commitments

Lebanon are always complaining about water shortage as well as its quality.

/capita/year [21]. The rest needed amount of water

/capita/year. Besides, water sup-

**98**

	- There is a change in agricultural practices, mainly including planting of new crops that are tolerant to dryness, and this resulted problems in the agronomical marketing. The cost of many filed crops has been lately doubled.
	- Insufficient water motivated farmers to use excessive amounts of fertilizers and chemicals and this in turn added contamination to the shallow groundwater and then to crops. This influences the food security in Lebanon since 10–15% of these crops contain heavy metals [24].
	- Water deficit for irrigation, by about 30–40%, created unfavorable socioeconomic and demographic changes from the rural to urbanized areas, notably to the coastal zone which comprises more than 70% of Lebanon's population.
	- Insufficient water supply postponed several hydro-power stations in Lebanon.

Based on the existing challenges, however, the following recommendations can be suggested:


*Hydrology - The Science of Water*
