Over-consumption, over-pumping and mismanagement are causing Lebanon's fresh water wells to become contaminated with salt water, making the reserves unfit for human consumption, a recent study shows. The information was made public at a conference organized the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy & International Affairs at the American University of Beirut last week.

Over the course of four years, Mark Saade, a hydro-geologist, conducted the survey, sampling drinking water from more than 40 wells in the Baade Municipality and throughout Lebanon. He focused particularly on Lebanon's dense population centers like Beirut's southern suburbs, where water consumption from the wells is highest because they are under-served by municipal networks.

More water is consumed from these wells than can be replenished. This causes a lowering of the water table and the result is the contamination with salt water from the sea.  "Over 2 percent contamination of salt water into the drinking water makes it unsuitable for domestic purposes," he said. However, his survey found that salt water intrusion had seeped into the fresh water wells by at least 15 percent.  "If the process continues," he said, "Lebanon is facing a major catastrophe."

Not only will the water from the wells be undrinkable, but the infrastructure and the economy of the country will also be at risk, Saade said. Lebanon would lose a sizable portion of its arable lands that depend on the wells.  "One by one you'd lose crop lands. The crop yields would decrease after each season until after a few seasons, you'd have nothing but a salt encrustation over your soil. The cattle and livestock industry will suffer also," he warned.

Saade said that even the construction industry would be affected. "You need fresh water to mix with concrete. When you mix salt water with concrete it cracks after three years. In the future, buildings can fall down because of this. Damage will also result from rusted pipes, and water mains. "  Saade blamed the impending crisis on mismanagement on the part of the water and energy authorities. "When you talk to the water authorities and ministries of energy few know or have heard about this problem."

Saade also pointed out that Lebanon has no water meters to charge the population for the amount of water they consume. Instead there is flat rate throughout the whole year.  "There is no pay as you go basis, no incentive for me or for you to preserve this precious resource. This instills irresponsibility in everyone when you're not taxing them for water they use."  However an even bigger price tag may be in store for Lebanon if it is too late to reverse the process.  "If this is a worse case scenario, the solution may be to build desalination plants which can filter out sea water such as the ones in Saudi Arabia which are costly. We may be at a point of no return" Saade said.