Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in Lebanon: Key Policies and Future Scenarios

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Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in Lebanon Key
Policies and Future Scenarios

• K. Karaa, F. Karam and N. Tarabey

WASAMED Workshop, Cairo 7-11 December 2004
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Necessity for non Conventional water use in
Lebanon

• Total Available Water Resources in Lebanon2000
  MCM
• Total Needs in 2020
• 2450 MCM with actual Efficiencies Networks
• 1998 MCM with ameliorated Efficiencies (80 for
  potable water and 75 for irrigation )
• Lebanon must search for new non conventional
  water resources

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Non Conventional Water Resources

• Drainage water collection
• Flooding area in the Bekaa Valley (5000 ha)
• Actually Drainage system is active and collected
  water is recuperated in the Litani river bed and
  stocked in Qaraaoun Reservoir
• Works for Recalibration and rehabilitation of
  Litani River and Effluents are ongoing.
• Coastal plain area where gravity irrigation
  technique is practiced
• Diminution of drainage water volume by using
  adequate irrigation techniques
• Water drainage reuse at on-farm level with a
  regular water quality monitoring
• Gained volumes are insignificants compared to
  needs

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Non Conventional Water Resources

• Sea water desalination Seems to be very costly
  to Lebanon according to actual cost 0.5 to 0.6
  US by Cubic Meter
• Conclusion Treated Waste Water is a god solution
  to assure new water resources

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Waste water treatment plan

• A master plan for secondary waste water treatment
  is already elaborated for all Lebanon and Funded
  at 70.47 of total Cost.
• Between 2005 and 2007, constructed plants are
  previewed to serve until 2015, 88 of the total
  Lebanese population.

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• Topographical, demographic and urban conditions
• Economical considerations
• Incite to preview a master plan where the major
  part of waste water (55) is collected on the
  coastal area.

Master plan for waste water treatment in Lebanon
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Lebanon Land Form and Plain Areas
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Treated waste water reuseBeirut region

• - 36 of treated waste water is generated by
  Beirut Treatment Plants (Dora Ghadir) where
  agricultural activity is very limited (green
  houses) and is invested regularly and very fast
  by urban activities
• Beirut region suffer from lack on potable water
  and to fill up this lack about 3000 wells are
  drilled.
• Underground water suffer from salinity problems
• Main treated wastewater volume in Beirut region,
  can be used to control sea water intrusion

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Treated waste water reuseOthers Coastal areas
and Inland Regions

• Treated water can be entirely used for
  agriculture purposes
• This use is a water quality matter which to be
  adapted with Lebanese legislation.