Updated National Water Sector Strategy (NWSS) 2020 - Volume III.

This updated NWSS is aligned with the National Water Sector Strategy of 2012. It takes into account the adoption of the Water Code (Law 77/2018) and its structuring principles, which are in turn in line with the water sector structure as defined by Law 221/2000 and its amendments. The new Strategy consists of VI Volumes, of which this is Volume III concerning the Water Resources Management.
A large section of the present volume (Section A) includes adaptation measures to climate change promoting for a national adaptation framework, needed to restructure water governance, implement measures for water resources and infrastructure, improve surface and groundwater quality, improve equitable access to sustainable water supply and enhance knowledge and capacity for climate change adaptation. Potential adaptation measures include (i) reducing the likelihood that coastal freshwater aquifers will experience from saltwater intrusion as sea level rises; (ii) increasing the water-use efficiency of domestic, industrial, and agricultural sectors; (iii) developing watershed-managed plans appropriate for expected changes in climate; (iv) investigating the feasibility of alternative sources of water supply; (v) improving the available information about Lebanon’s water resources and water systems. Other adaptation measures were introduced by the INDC in 2015 with the objective of increasing water availability and improving water usage to decrease the sector’s vulnerability by (i) improving water security such as through increasing artificial recharge of groundwater aquifers and increasing surface storage dams and hill lakes; (ii) optimizing the use of the current water resources through the rehabilitation of the existing network and the installation of water meters; (iii) increasing wastewater collection and treatment; (iv) increasing water reuse, especially after wastewater treatment; (v) improving water efficiency and decrease water loss in irrigation.
Another challenge highlighted by the Strategy (Section A) is the necessity of a greater coordination of data-collection to meet the needs of water managers through a holistic approach. To this end it is required the implementation of an Integrated Hydrological Information System (IHIS) which (i) provides public and private stakeholders an access to reliable information and management services; (ii) allows all information providers to manage, publish, share their data, products and services; and (iii) allows all users to develop value-added services and new products. According to the proposed strategy, the IHIS office shall be operated by a team of trained experts, and will be built on industry standards, incorporating existing services and solutions provided by the public and private sectors.
The Strategy also includes (Section D) a Water Safety Plan in 11 steps for monitoring water quality, of which the main steps are as follows (i) identify hazards and hazardous events and assess the risks; (ii) determine and validate control measures, reassess, and prioritize the risks; (iii) develop, implement, and maintain an improvement/upgrade plan; (iv) define monitoring of the control measures. While for the drinking water, are developed the WHO guidelines for drinking-water quality providing recommendations to manage the risks from hazards that may compromise the safety of drinking-water.
As regards wastewater and sludge (Section E), the main recommendations are (i) reuse of treated wastewater, or "reclaimed" water, for beneficial purposes such as drinking, irrigation, or industrial uses; (ii) protect domestic water sources (aquifers, springs, wells, or surface-water) against contamination by wastewater; (iii) elaborate common norms and standards for the reuse of treated wastewater and sludge to mitigate health and environmental risks; (iv) promote irrigation of agricultural lands by wastewater provided water quality is monitored and health standards are maintained; (v) develop a platform for disseminating knowledge gained from existing wastewater treatment facilities in the region; (vi) develop a clear-cut sludge treatment technology and thereupon based disposal/reuse strategy; (vii) promote (a) measures to minimize sludge volume, (b) measures to generate and utilize biogas for power generation, (c) regional co-operation in sludge management to help in bringing down sludge disposal/reuse cost.