**4. Anthropogenic factors**

There are several anthropogenic factors that play a significant role in increasing the impact of challenges on water resources, and these factors occur in Lebanon and remained untreated. However, the majority of anthropogenic challenges on water resources are represented mainly by the increased population and the related increase in water demands. This also results in many aspects of water deterioration (quantity and quality) and water loss due to the unwise use of these resources. Nevertheless, the anthropogenic factors that influence water resources can be resolved if consumers regulate their use of water and this in turn needs awareness and economic controls on water use.

#### **4.1 Increased population**

Normally, population size increases, but it would be wisdom to adapt the water use with the existing population size. In other words, the ratio of increase in population should be accompanied with more management approaches to have steady state of supply/demand. However, this is not the case in Lebanon where the increased population adds more stress on water supply.

**97**

**Figure 6.**

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

**4.2 Unwise use of water resources**

bodies and in groundwater reservoirs.

**4.3 Lack of governmental controls**

whole country.

m3

density.

The population growth rate in Lebanon is estimated at 1.1% [19]. This means that there is about 1.1% annual increase in demand for water and this also will be joined by additional human requirements. Of course, this will result in more water

/year for the

/year/capita. **Figure6**

demand for different purposes, which is estimated at 12.8 million m3

/year/capita [20], this estimate will increase by about 2.5 m3

has become minimal and therefore, the river is in jeopardy.

*Population density and water demand in Lebanon between 2003 and 2017.*

According to the estimated water demand in Lebanon, which is about 220

reveals an example of the increased water demand integrated with the population

Due to the lack of awareness for wise-use of water resources in Lebanon, the existed water supply deficit often results negative behaviours of consumers. This is well pronounced in the agricultural sector (which accounts for about 70% of water use) where farmers often follow chaotic irrigation approaches. Therefore, uncontrolled digging for boreholes followed with extensive pumping has become a common observation. Pumping of water directly form rivers and springs is also widespread, and this has reflected in the loss of volume of water in surface water

The unwise use of water resources in Lebanon accompanied with the lack of governmental controls have reflected in poor water quality and quantity, and thus several examples on water deterioration have been witnessed. The Litani River is one example where the water quality has been totally deteriorated and water volume

There is still a debate on the management status of water sector in Lebanon, notably that the country has witnessed several geo-political conflicts that have resulted in negative impact on water resources and the related sectors (e.g., agriculture, energy, and food). These conflicts have created distortion in most of the gauge stations (hydrological and meteorological), break down in the institutional framework, and ignorance of legislations to mitigate the encroachments on water resources, plus the lack of adaptation instruments to face the physical and man-made *Striking Challenges on Water Resources of Lebanon DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.81878*

*Hydrology - The Science of Water*

**4. Anthropogenic factors**

*Transboundary rivers of Lebanon.*

**Figure 5.**

and economic controls on water use.

increased population adds more stress on water supply.

**4.1 Increased population**

There are several anthropogenic factors that play a significant role in increasing the impact of challenges on water resources, and these factors occur in Lebanon and remained untreated. However, the majority of anthropogenic challenges on water resources are represented mainly by the increased population and the related increase in water demands. This also results in many aspects of water deterioration (quantity and quality) and water loss due to the unwise use of these resources. Nevertheless, the anthropogenic factors that influence water resources can be resolved if consumers regulate their use of water and this in turn needs awareness

Normally, population size increases, but it would be wisdom to adapt the water use with the existing population size. In other words, the ratio of increase in population should be accompanied with more management approaches to have steady state of supply/demand. However, this is not the case in Lebanon where the

**96**

The population growth rate in Lebanon is estimated at 1.1% [19]. This means that there is about 1.1% annual increase in demand for water and this also will be joined by additional human requirements. Of course, this will result in more water demand for different purposes, which is estimated at 12.8 million m3 /year for the whole country.

According to the estimated water demand in Lebanon, which is about 220 m3 /year/capita [20], this estimate will increase by about 2.5 m3 /year/capita. **Figure6** reveals an example of the increased water demand integrated with the population density.

#### **4.2 Unwise use of water resources**

Due to the lack of awareness for wise-use of water resources in Lebanon, the existed water supply deficit often results negative behaviours of consumers. This is well pronounced in the agricultural sector (which accounts for about 70% of water use) where farmers often follow chaotic irrigation approaches. Therefore, uncontrolled digging for boreholes followed with extensive pumping has become a common observation. Pumping of water directly form rivers and springs is also widespread, and this has reflected in the loss of volume of water in surface water bodies and in groundwater reservoirs.

The unwise use of water resources in Lebanon accompanied with the lack of governmental controls have reflected in poor water quality and quantity, and thus several examples on water deterioration have been witnessed. The Litani River is one example where the water quality has been totally deteriorated and water volume has become minimal and therefore, the river is in jeopardy.

#### **4.3 Lack of governmental controls**

There is still a debate on the management status of water sector in Lebanon, notably that the country has witnessed several geo-political conflicts that have resulted in negative impact on water resources and the related sectors (e.g., agriculture, energy, and food). These conflicts have created distortion in most of the gauge stations (hydrological and meteorological), break down in the institutional framework, and ignorance of legislations to mitigate the encroachments on water resources, plus the lack of adaptation instruments to face the physical and man-made

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.
