Lebanon: CIUDAD water management project to help save drinking water

The first of 8 decentralized waste water treatment plants was inaugurated in the town of Baakline, Lebanon. The first results of collection and purification of “grey” water carried out by the EU-funded Urban Water Management project (WADI) in the Mount Lebanon governorate were presented at the meeting of project partners held in Baakine from 8 to 10 February. “Grey” water from washing and household activities is purified and used for irrigation, putting less pressure on drinking water supplies.

Moreover, the collection and purification process used in this project is low-tech and low-cost. Seven other plants planned in the project are under construction. The project hopes to use them to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the proposed solution both for improving sanitation and saving water. The first results presented during the meeting aroused keen interest among the local institutions and associations involved in the management of wastewater as well as members of the press. 

The WADI project, funded by the EU in the Framework of the CIUDAD programme, will help Lebanese and Palestinian partner municipalities train their staff on-the-job to develop surface water management and flood control plans (in Jericho) and decentralized wastewater treatment (in the Lebanese Chouf municipalities). It will also help implement selected pilot projects and work with NGOs to educate local communities about safe practices. 

CIUDAD runs from 2009 to 2012 and co-finances 21 local grant projects in the Neighbourhood's South and East. The projects reflect the overall objective of CIUDAD and in particular the following themes:

• Environmental Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
• Sustainable Economic development and reduction of social disparities and
• Good governance and sustainable urban development planning. 

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WADI project factsheet
 CIUDAD – fiche and news
 CIUDAD - website