Algeria 
Egypt 
Jordan 
Lebanon 
Libya 
Morocco 
Palestine * 
Syria * 
Tunisia Lebanon’s wastewater crisis needs local solutions: A new policy paper makes the case for decentralised systems
A newly launched policy paper, developed through the From Innovation to Creation programme, managed by SPARK and implemented with local partners in Lebanon presents decentralised wastewater treatment systems as a realistic and scalable solution. Funded by the European Union, the programme supports innovation across the region by strengthening local ecosystems and entrepreneurial approaches. In this case, the focus is on DEWATS: smaller, cost-effective systems that are far better suited to Lebanon’s fragmented infrastructure, rural geography, and ongoing energy and financial challenges.
They are already being implemented with success. In the town of Bcharre, a reed-bed wastewater plant has operated since 2013, treating the domestic waste of 40 households with minimal maintenance and no electricity. Another example is the BiomWeb system installed by Lebanese enterprise Mrüna in the municipality of Miziara. It treats 12,000 litres of wastewater per day for a remote neighbourhood near a nature reserve and requires only basic local upkeep. “What this paper suggests is a different approach. Decentralised wastewater treatment systems are smaller, more affordable and easier to maintain,” explained Rita Al Jahjah, a contributor to the paper. “Our recommendations are based on research, local expertise and focus groups with stakeholders to enable the relevance of information and feasibility.”
The policy paper does not only highlight technical options. It also provides a full roadmap of policy and investment measures to support the adoption of decentralised systems across Lebanon. These include regulatory reforms to simplify permit processes, making tenders more accessible to small wastewater enterprises, creating partnerships between private providers and universities, and introducing results-based financing to ensure systems remain functional over time. The paper also highlights the potential for circular business models, where treated wastewater and sludge can be reused in agriculture. This reuse model would improve sustainability and create opportunities for cost recovery, which is currently absent from Lebanon’s underfunded wastewater sector.
Countries covered:
-
Lebanon
