Feasibility mapping small scale storage, artificial recharge and pilot projects

On an annual basis, Lebanon has a surplus of water. This does not mean water scarcity does not occur. Water is needed in the dry summer season while most precipitation falls during winter. Snowfall and its´ characteristic of phased out melting results in delayed recharge. Even though, the supply does not meet the current annual demand. Increasing temperatures due to climate change enlarges the scarcity because precipitation patterns are changing from snow to rain resulting in increasing runoff. Underground storage or storage in reservoirs is needed to ensure water availability. The challenge is to create delayed recharge with use of the natural environment in Lebanon. The challenge is to fi nd the possibilities for (ground)water storage within the highly complex Lebanese geological conditions. For example, large parts of the country consists of karstifi ed limestones which are impacted by seismic faults and fractures. Delaying water in this karstifi ed limestones is hard to reach because the deposition is fractured and channels of water can fl ow through these layers very quickly, up to 5 km/day. Using this knowledge the opportunities for piloting groundwater storage will be searched in the sandy sedimentary depositions along the coast. Large parts of these coastal plains are used by farmers. Linking possible users and MAR piloting makes it possible to test a demand driven pilot using Dutch expertise.