Beirut, 18 November 2017: A two-year monitoring study in Lebanon’s Shouf Mountains, done in collaboration between the Shouf Biosphere Reserve and Nestlé Waters, found the area’s overall groundwater balance to be positive by around 12 million cubic meters per year, with high impact of the climate change and human activities.
With the rainy season mainly extending from October to April, the “Groundwater assessment of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve-Lebanon” study, implemented by leading water and environmental management consultancy ANTEA Group, also found, a need to better manage water resources, to avoid droughts caused by significant seasonal shifts in surface water flows in the area’s springs and rivers.
The news was announced at a ceremony in Beirut held under the auspices of Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water Cesar Abi Khalil; the presence of Selim Jreissati minister of justice; Mrs. Noura Joumblatt; Mr. Charles Njeim, the president of the SBR committee; Representatives of the ministries of Health & environment and Nestlé global Water Resources Manager Carlo Galli.
“The results are very reassuring as far as groundwater levels in the Shouf are concerned,” said Abi Khalil. “We now look forward to continued collaboration with the private sector and local authorities and institutions, which was pivotal in taking the lead in this initiative, in order to implement the study’s recommended means to ensure sustainable water supply during dry seasons in the watershed. This initiative is fully in line with the government policy on water basin management”
Mrs. Nora Joumblatt said: “The Shouf Biosphere Reserve is ready to support the implementation of this important initiative without further delay, insisting on establishing a steering committee, as per report recommendation to implement the roadmap, which would include representatives from the Ministries Water & Energy, Agriculture; municipalities with representatives of local agriculture cooperatives, local water authorities, concerned NGOs, private sector, women groups and others.
Mrs. Joumblatt concluded “This study is undoubtedly a significant step forward in the preservation of our environment and water resources. Without exaggeration, we can easily say we would be preserving life itself”
“We at Nestlé Waters advocate for effective water stewardship,” said Galli. “Our collaboration with the Shouf Biosphere Reserve in Lebanon and local stakeholders is allowing us to create shared value for the society, the environment and us, by ensuring integrated water resources management of the watershed.”
More on the study
The “Groundwater assessment of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve-Lebanon” study is the fruit of a 2015 Memorandum of Understanding between Nestlé Waters and the Shouf Biosphere Reserve.
Launched in 2016, its key objective was to assess the water resources of the area extending over Lebanon’s western mountain chain from Mount Kneisseh in the North, to mount Niha in the South – one of the most plentiful freshwater-generating hotspots in Lebanon and the Middle East.
The next step of this study will be the creation of a basin committee to follow up on the action plan and recommendations.