The Lebanon Water Project (LWP) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with the objective of increasing access to clean, reliable, and sustainable sources of water for Lebanese citizens. LWP is a $65-million activity that was launched in October 2015 and will conclude in September 2020.
For Haykal Jibrael Mikhael, a farmer from the town of Qobaiyat in north Lebanon, losing one of his apple trees means losing a part of his livelihood. And for decades, Haykal and many other farmers have been losing many of their trees because of dwindling water availability.
“It’s not the first tree that has died,” added Haykal. “Many others have died, too, because of lack of water.”
The Litani River Basin Management Support (LRMBS) Program was a four and a half-year program to improve water management in the Litani River Basin. It was implemented by International Resources Group (IRG), in cooperation with the Litani River Authority (LRA), and was funded by USAID.
The Water Infrastructure Support and Enhancement for Lebanon (WISE-Lebanon) program was a highly successful three-year infrastructure and capacity building project (2012–2015) funded by USAID that improved water services for thousands of Lebanese citizens and a large Syrian refugee population living in towns and villages throughout Lebanon while also contributing to the capacity and performance of regional water and wastewater utilities.
This final report outlines the activities and Small Village Wastewater Treatment Systems (SVWTS) Phase II project in Lebanon (October 2005–July 2012).
In August 2013, USAID requested the WISE-Lebanon program conduct a rapid assessment of the communities served by the Water Establishments (WE) and directly affected by the Syrian refugee influx in order to identify, develop, recommend, and potentially implement integrated interventions.
This year’s Global Water and Development Report of Water and Sanitation Activities examines USAID programming through the lens of its new areas of focus and opportunity, takes a closer look at USAID’s support for partner countries on their journeys to self-reliance, and provides a country breakdown of WASH and water funding.
The Lebanon Water and Wastewater Sector Support project (LWWSS) ran from September 2009–October 2015 as part of USAID's commitment to improving and strengthening the water sector in Lebanon. The program worked directly with the four regional water establishments, providing technical assistance to strengthen their capacity to deliver high-quality and sustainable services.
Lebanon Water Project | 2015–2020
Strengthening water services has been a priority in this water-scarce region since USAID began its partnership with Lebanon in the 1950s. Lebanon’s water supply and systems are under greater strain than ever before as it absorbs a massive influx of Syrian refugees. On average, water is available intermittently for just eight hours a day, and only 8 percent of the population is connected to a central sewage system.
Despite relatively abundant natural water resources, Lebanon faces a significant water deficit exacerbated by population growth, random urban expansion, climate change, and influx of Syrian refugees. A history of regional conflict and limited attention to institutional capacity further complicates the situation of the water sector. Thus, USAID and other donors are providing technical services and related resources to the country’s water establishments to respond to these challenges.
