Lebanon Faces Severe Drought as Litani River Water Levels Hit Historic Low

Lebanon Faces Severe Drought as Litani River Water Levels Hit Historic Low
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Lebanon’s largest reservoir, Lake Qaraoun, has drastically shrunk as water levels in the Litani River reached historic lows, Reuters reported. Experts describe this as the worst drought in the country’s history, endangering agriculture, electricity generation, and domestic water supplies.

The Litani River National Authority revealed that inflows during this year’s wet season were only 45 million cubic meters—far below the annual average of 350 million cubic meters. Sami Alawieh, head of the authority, noted that about 61 million cubic meters of water were unusable due to severe pollution.

Nearly 90% of Lebanon’s 4,000 springs, including 300 perennial ones, have dried up, affecting the entire nation. Hydroelectric plants linked to the Litani basin have shut down, causing financial losses and worsening electricity rationing.

Farmers in the Bekaa Valley face water shortages, with wells drying and electricity supply for irrigation halved in some areas. The Ministry of Energy and Water plans to launch a nationwide campaign to reduce water consumption. Climate change and shifting weather patterns are driving the drought conditions.