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World Bank approves US$257.8 million to improve water supply services

World Bank approves US$257.8 million to improve water supply services

The World Bank headquarters. (Credit: NNA)

BEIRUT — The World Bank has approved a $257.8 million financing to improve water supply services in the Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon districts, according to a statement released by the institution on Wednesday.

The Second Greater Beirut Water Supply Project (SGBWSP) will "complete critical water infrastructure, improve water quality, reduce reliance on costly private water sources, and advance the implementation of reforms to enhance the water sector efficiency and long-term sustainability," the World Bank statement read.

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This project builds on the progress achieved under the World Bank's first Greater Beirut Water Supply Project.

The new initiative will "finance the completion of bulk water infrastructure initiated and significantly advanced under the first project, and repair water infrastructure that may have been damaged by the conflict," the World Bank stated.

Cross-border attrition hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, which began in October 2023, escalated into a nearly full-scale war in September 2024. The war in Lebanon resulted in significant infrastructure damage before a cease-fire was ultimately reached in November. 

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"The project will also finance necessary add-ons to the Wardanieh Water Treatment Plant for improved water quality to manage increased levels of pollution expected at different times of the year," the statement reads.

Generally, the project aims to "increase water supply coverage for the 1.8 million people residing in the Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon area, significantly reducing reliance on private water tankers, which are up to ten times more expensive."

According to the World Bank, this "infrastructure investment will boost surface water supply to meet on average 70% of the demand during the dry season, up from 24%."

Jean-Christophe Carret, the World Bank Middle East Country Director, said that this project "reflects the World Bank’s continued commitment to support Lebanon’s long-term development needs, despite the recent conflict and recurrent crises."

"The project aligns with the World Bank’s strategic approach of engagement in Lebanon that prioritizes continued support to critical social protection and service provision," he added.

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According to the institution's statement, the project will also support the water sector reform agenda outlined in the Energy and Water Ministry's National Water Sector Strategy (NWSS) 2024-2035.

Despite having one of the highest precipitation levels in the MENA region, Lebanon faces shortages in water availability, due to the seasonal concentration of rainfall and insufficient surface water storage. Moreover, as a result of the multiple crises the country has faced over the past years, development and financial challenges have severely obstructed the effective planning, implementation and maintenance of water infrastructure and hindered the sustainability of water services. 

BEIRUT — The World Bank has approved a $257.8 million financing to improve water supply services in the Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon districts, according to a statement released by the institution on Wednesday.The Second Greater Beirut Water Supply Project (SGBWSP) will "complete critical water infrastructure, improve water quality, reduce reliance on costly private water sources, and...