Emergency Rehabilitation of Potable Water (NERP Programme-first year)

A US$60 million programme, financed by the World Bank and the European Investment Bank, aimed at rehabilitating the water supply networks and installations belonging to 19 water authorities, is now complete.

The rehabilitation and installation of supply networks in the displaced villages of Baabda, Aley and the Chouf have been completed (US$7.3 million, financed by the Saudi Fund for Development).

Greater Beirut Area (NERP Programme - second and third years)

Several contracts were awarded for the rehabilitation and installation of water supply systems in Greater Beirut. The total value of these contracts amounted to US$45 million, financed by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. These contracts cover the following works:
- Rehabilitation of water sources such as Kashkoush and Ain ed Delbe springs;
- Rehabilitation of the Daichounieh and Hazmieh treatment plants;
- Rehabilitation and construction of transmission and distribution networks in the Greater Beirut region.

Extension of Dbaye Water Treatment Plant

The capacity of Dbaye water treatment plant has been extended to 430,000 m3 per day. This project was financed by the Italian Protocol at a cost of US$5.7 million. Another contract was awarded in 1999 to increase the treatment capacity by 70,000 m3 (US$3 million). The works are expected to start early in 2001.

Technical Assistance to Ministry of Hydraulic and Electric Resources

A FFr30 million technical assistance programme, financed under the French protocol, has been completed. This technical assistance was provided to the Ministry of Hydraulic and Electric Resources (now the Ministry of Power and Water) and the major water utilities in the form of capacity building, institutional development and the provision of water supply equipment.

Progress in Current Projects

Rehabilitation and Extension of Water Treatment Plants, Pumping Stations and Chlorination Plants

This project includes the rehabilitation and extension of seven main water treatment plants in Lebanon: Zahle, Kfarhelda, Tripoli, Jbeil, Kousba, Ras el Ain, Al Bass (Sour). It also includes the rehabilitation of 280 pumping stations in various regions of Lebanon. The works started in August 1996. To date, 180 pumping stations have been handed over and the rest are being completed. As far as the treatment plants are concerned, two have been handed over (Tripoli and Zahle) and two others are being tested (Al Bass and Ras el Ain); the civil works are complete and the electro-mechanical equipment is being installed at Kfarhelda and Kousba and works are about to start at Jbeil. This project, amounting to US$34 million, is financed by the French Protocol.

Upon the request of the Ministry of Hydraulic and Electric Resources, the Council of Ministers entrusted CDR in 1999 with the responsibility of letting contracts for the operation and maintenance, for one year, of the following sites:
- El Hab spring treatment plant and Abou Halqa spring pumping station (Tripoli);
- Wadi Jilo and Chehabiyeh pumping station and distribution facilities (South Lebanon);
- Loussi pumping station and borehole (West Bekaa);
- Fakhr ed Din borehole pumping station and distribution facilities (South Lebanon).

Rehabilitation and extension of Potable Water Supply networks in all regions and extension of Wastewater networks in main villages

This programme started with the preparation of studies for the development and modernization of potable water supply. These studies covered all the regions of Lebanon and subsequently the following contracts were awarded:
- Potable water supply networks in Baalbeck and Nabi Chit and wastewater network in Baalbeck (amount of contract: US$29 million, financed by the World Bank). The project aims at rehabilitating water reservoirs and pumping stations and laying distribution networks. Works progress was around 76% at the end of 2000;
- Potable water supply networks for Qobayat Water Authority and wastewater network in Akkar (amount of contract: US$14.9 million, financed by the European Investment Bank). Works progress was around 88% at the end of 2000;
- Potable water supply networks for some villages in Akkar supplied from wells (US$4 million, financed by a grant from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). This project includes building of water reservoirs and pumping stations and wells. Works were completed in January 2000;
- Potable water supply network for Tripoli Water Authority and wastewater networks in Tripoli (amount of contract: US$31 million, financed by the European Investment Bank). The programme of works has been extended and now includes the construction of water reservoirs, which will cover the needs of the city until 2025. 60% of the work was completed by the end of 2000;
- Potable water supply network for Batroun Water Authority and some waste water networks in Batroun (amount of contract: US$16.9 million, financed by the European Investment Bank). Works have been completed;
- Potable water supply networks for Metn and Barouk Water Authorities and wastewater network in Metn and Chouf regions (US$16.1 million, financed by the World Bank). The project includes the construction of 22 water reservoirs, water supply lines and distribution networks. The work on the water supply lines is near completion and it will be possible to start the water reservoir works when expropriation proceedings are completed. 50% of the works have been completed;
- Potable water supply networks for Saida Water Authority (US$4 million, partially financed by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development): works started in August 1999 and are 70% complete;
- Potable water supply networks for Tyre Water Authority (US$3.6 million, partially financed by the Arab fund for Economic and Social Development);
- Potable water supply networks for Tyre rural areas (US$10 million, partially financed by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development): 40% of the work has been completed;
- Water supply to El Boustane and El Harf villages from El Nassara and El Hariq springs (US$1.9 million). 7% of the works have been completed;
- Yammouneh water supply (US$11.8 million, financed by the Islamic Development Bank): The project consists of the captage of Yammouneh spring, 76km of transmission lines, 246km of distribution networks, 23 new reservoirs and 2 wells. 30% of the work has been completed;
- Oun Orgosh water supply (US$7.3 million, financed by the Islamic Development Bank): The project consists of the captage of Qaboueh and Chemali springs, 72km of transmission lines, 110km of distribution networks and 18 new reservoirs. 30% of the work has been completed.

Projects in Preparation

Many works contracts will be awarded during 2001 for the rehabilitation of water supply networks in the following regions:
- Potable water supply networks for a number of villages in the Akkar region: This project was divided into three parts: 1) distribution networks for the Ain Yaccoub region, 2)water supply networks for the regions of Bargash and Kaf el Tineh and 3) water supply networks for the Kfartoun and Akroum regions. The total cost of these projects is estimated to be around US$25 million, which will be partly financed by the Saudi Fund for Development. A contract has been signed for the third project, Kfartoun and Akroum (US$5.4 million). The other two are being tendered;
- Water supply networks for Beit Mallat and surrounding villages in Akkar region: this project includes the construction of water reservoirs, water supply lines, a pumping station and water treatment plant. The total cost of the project is estimated at US$10 million with financing by the Islamic Development Bank and the OPEC Fund for International Development. The works contract has been awarded and the works will commence soon;
- Potable water supply networks for Jbeil Water Authority (US$15 million, financed by the Italian Protocol): The tender documents have been handed over and will be evaluated by the Italian Government. The works contract will be tendered during the second half of 2001;
- Nahr Ibrahim - Jbeil water transmission line (estimated at US$1.6 million), partly financed by a grant from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The detailed design and tender documents are presently being updated;
- Rehabilitation of water supply networks in Jezzine: the contract for the design and tender documents for the water reservoirs, water supply lines and the distribution networks is out to tender. This project is financed by the French Development Agency (Agence Fran�aise de D�veloppement);
- Potable water supply networks for Nabaa Tasseh Spring Water Authority and some wastewater networks in Nabatieh (US$23 million): this project is expected to be financed by the World Bank;
- Taybeh treatment plant: The project aims to treat 25,000 m3/day of water and pumping it into Jabel Amel Water Authority networks (US$14.8 million). The project is funded by the IDB;
- Lake Brissa (Minieh/Dannieh region): Tender documents for this project are being evaluated by the Saudi Fund for Development (US$10 million);
- Minieh water supply project: Tender documents are being updated before being sent for approval to the Saudi Fund for Development (US$15 million);
- Akkar el Attiqa water supply project: Tender documents are being evaluated. The works contract will be tendered during the next six months (US$8 million).

Abstraction and treatment of Fawar Antelias water

This project aims at capturing Fawar Antelias water for supplying the Metn region. The cost of this project is US$15.6 million with financing from the Italian Protocol.

Awali - Beirut Water Supply

This project was prepared at the end of the sixties for supplying Greater Beirut with water from the Awali river. The detailed studies were completed in 1996. This project is expected to be executed in the form of a concession (BOT). Its cost is estimated to be US$170. Invitations to tender should be issued during year the 2001.

Madik-Kesrouan Coastal Area Water Supply

These works include the capture of Madik spring water, installation of a main supply pipeline (through a tunnel) to the coast at Kesrouan and construction of main reservoirs and water distribution networks for Kesrouan coastal region. Invitations to tender have been issued and a works contract has been signed. The cost of this project is US$36 million, with financing from the Japanese government. Work will commence shortly.

Water Supply sector overview
Water Supply contracts awarded
Water Supply contracts in preparation

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