View of Lake Anan in Jezzine. (Photo provided to L'Orient Today's correspondent Muntasser Abdallah)
The Litani River Authority announced the interruption of irrigation water supply for subscribers of the Saida-Jezzine network for one week, starting Wednesday evening, to carry out maintenance and the drainage of the Anan artificial lake basin.
In a statement sent to L'Orient Today's correspondent, the public institution, which manages water resources along the Litani River and throughout Lebanese territory in general, explained that this measure was necessary due to a 'breakdown' in the pressurized pipeline connecting the Anan basin to the Paul Arkach hydro-electric power station on the Awali River. The drainage of the basin, which was set to begin Wednesday evening, "will allow maintenance work to be carried out over a period of at least two days."
The prolonged interruption until next Tuesday also aims to "clean a 600-meter channel, clogged with sediments, sand and weeds accumulated after the drainage," the Authority said, urging its subscribers to "anticipate the irrigation of their crops" to mitigate any negative impact during this period.