Water Pollution
Unlike most Middle Eastern countries, Lebanon is blessed with high annual rainfall. Hundreds of springs feed 17 rivers year round as well as 23 rivers that are seasonal. The steeper eastern slopes of the Lebanon Mountains receive a significantly lower quantity of precipitation and contain only a few seasonal streams, which are fed by the melting snow.
Unfortunately, most of Lebanon's water resources, besides being wasted by inefficient irrigation techniques and a decaying water distribution system, are polluted by untreated sewage, dumped waste and industrial effluents. Studies done in 1990 and 1994 showed that at least 70% of all fresh water resources were exposed to bacteriological contamination and that 80 % of the well water must be considered unsafe for consumption. A case in point is the northern city of Tripoli which suffered from a drinking water crisis when city's water sources were contaminated. In addition, sea water intrusion due to the over pumping of groundwater by private wells has rendered a lot of the groundwater near the coast unusable.
The Nahr Ibrahim River and the Litani River are considered to be two of the most polluted rivers in Lebanon. The Karaoun Lake, fed by the Litani River, was put off limits for fishermen, due to the high concentrations of heavy metal and pesticide residues found in fish. In fact, all rivers in Lebanon suffer at varying degrees from the effects of solid waste and effluents.
Sea water suffers from heavy bacteriological and chemical contamination. A study on fish in 1997 found that 30 % of all the fish caught along the Lebanese coast had plastic in their stomachs and divers complain about the presence of plastic under the sea. Traces of mercury and pesticides like DDT, have been found in measurable concentrations in fish offshore, which will eventually end up in our menu. Major sources of pollution are effluent from tanneries, fertilizer production, soap and paint factories, food processing facilities, disposed oil and waste disposal into the water from ships and tankers. And sediment from soil erosion or stirred up during coastal construction has destroyed or deteriorated many of the fish breeding grounds,
Water quality is a priority issue and improvements are on the way In September 1996, the Ministry of Environment enacted standards for drinking water, water in swimming pools and industrial effluent. The drinking water is now generally treated with chlorine, but some contamination takes place where water pipes are broken. Outbreaks of diseases due to water pollution are still common among those who can't afford bottled water and get their water directly from springs.
Currently there is no wastewater treatment in Lebanon, but the sewage treatment plant in Ghadir, near Beirut is almost ready to commence primary treatment (physical treatment). Long pipes are supposed to channel the sewage into the sea to prevent coastal pollution. More sewage treatment plants are in the planning stage for all urban conglomerations.
Agrochemicals
Farmers in Lebanon tend to use pesticides and fertilizers in excessive amounts and frequently do not conform to the specified waiting period (i.e. the minimum length of time, which must elapse between spraying and harvesting to safeguard the health of the consumer). In the past, the Ministry of Agriculture used to advise farmers on appropriate techniques and applications, but this service was interrupted by the war. Presently, the ministry has only a few agricultural engineers and field experts, which cannot possibly reach all the farmers in Lebanon. The distributor or company who sells the chemicals is frequently the only source of information for the farmer. Containers often lack labels, instructions or expiry dates and may include some chemicals banned in other countries for their damaging effect on the environment. The present practices are a health threat to the farm workers and the public, and may cause resistance of certain pests to common pesticides. The health of soil organisms and soil quality has suffered as a consequence and the run-off pollutes water resources.
Toxic and Hazardous Waste
The public became painfully aware of the dangerous consequences of toxic and hazardous waste when it was discovered that ten thousand barrels of waste from Italy had been dumped in Lebanon. In 1994, Lebanon ratified the Basle Convention, which bans all trade in toxic waste. Consequently, some hazardous waste, illegally imported into the country from Italy, Germany and Canada, were sent back at the expense of the country of origin.
The problem of how to deal with local hospital and hazardous waste is still not solved. The existing hospital incinerators continue to emit dangerous dioxin, paradoxically threatening public health. The CDR is studying alternative solutions, including technologies, which would make incineration unnecessary. So far there are no definite plans for the construction of a special hazardous landfill, which means that medical waste and toxic waste from polluting industries such as tanneries, will continue to end up in dumps and landfills.
Solid Waste
Starting out without any proper facilities, funds, or regulatory measures, the Ministry of Environment issued an Emergency Waste Management Plan in 1997, which ended the use of incineration and proposed alternatives to the dumping of waste. As a result, the large dump in Bourj Hammoud (situated on the coast just a few kilometres from Beirut's city centre) was closed in July 1997 and the polluting old incinerator in Amrousieh followed suite. The Normandy dump has been totally rehabilitated as part of the Solidere project in central Beirut and recyclable material has been removed. Eventually this area will be turned into a public park.
Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment studies have been done to identify the least hazardous locations for sanitary landfills and the first landfill was established in Naameh, which is expected to remain open for about 10 years. However, there are very few locations along the heavily populated coast, which are suitable for landfills. Quarries, which have been considered as a possible alternative site, are mostly situated above aquifers which makes them unsuitable as sites for sanitary landfills, and their topography does not lend itself easily for land filling. It is also expected that the planned establishment of new landfills will face considerable resistance from the population, (as was already the case with a landfill planned in Koura). It is doubtful if landfills can solve Lebanon's waste problem and future solutions will have to include strong components of waste reduction, recycling, composting and possibly even incineration.
In the absence of better options, most waste is so far, still dumped anywhere by the municipalities and leachate is polluting the soil and groundwater. Recycling and composting has taken some important strides forward.
Garbage is now separated in two waste sorting plants. The plant in Karantina (near the Nahr Beirut) can sort 1100 ton of waste from northern Beirut and Mount Lebanon per day. The smaller plant in Amrousieh near the airport can handle 600 tons of waste per day from southern Beirut and Mount Lebanon.. In these plants, glass, plastic, and metal are sorted out and sold for recycling. Organic waste is taken to the composting facility in Karantina, which can handle 500 tons a day. The leftover waste is compacted and bailed and sent to the sanitary landfill in Naameh.
Recycling campaigns have been organized for several years in some schools and universities who collected over 75,000 tons of paper ( which saved approximately 1300 trees) between 1995-1997. Even more significant is the activity of the numerous scavengers which remove considerable quantities of carton, metal and plastic from the waste containers and dumps and sell them to scrap dealers. Sukkleen, a private waste management company, has placed containers for glass, plastic, and metal around Beirut, where environmentally conscious citizen can place their sorted waste for recycling.
Several companies in Lebanon use the collected recyclable waste to manufacture new products, including at least 5 companies who recycle paper, 4 for glass, and a few companies recycle used oil, metal and plastic. Paper is made mostly into carton and boxes, even though the capacity exists to produce a paper quality which can be used in offices. The main constraint is the lack in demand. Plastic is made into vegetable crates or sometimes water pipes. However the mostly small manufactures add to air pollution since they are using very simple technology without the appropriate filters. Some of the used oil is cleaned and made into motor oil, a portion is exported to Syria or is burned as fuel in the cement factories. Glass is mostly remade into bottles and glass containers but it may be used for road surfacing as well. Scrap iron and other metal is mostly exported.
A special type of problem is caused by the 150 tons of slaughter house waste produced daily. Currently it is simply thrown in dumps or at best treated with lime and then landfilled. The Ministry of Environment is studying plans to have this waste collected by a private enterprise which plans to turn it into bone meal for poultry production.
Very little effort has been done to encourage waste reduction. A notable exception is the Centre for Environment and Development, run by the Makassid foundation, which has initiated a community waste sorting and collection program. Training programs organized by the Centre teach women how to turn these used items into useful products. An NGO in Bsharre has produced cloths shopping bags and the Ministry of Environment is studying possible measures to reduce the large quantity of plastic shopping bags in our waste.
Air Pollution
Lebanon ratified the Convention on Climate Change in 1994. To comply with the requirements of the convention and to identify the necessary steps which must be implemented, the UNDP Climate Enabling Activity was created which started a greenhouse gas inventory and is studying the potential impact of climate change and preventive measures on Lebanon,
Studies based on 1994 data indicate that most of the air pollution in Lebanon originates from the transport and energy sector. Lebanon's per capita CO2 emissions are 4.55 tons which is 3 times as much as the average for India. The CO2 emissions of vehicles was calculated to be 1,030,275 t/year, and CO2 emissions from power plants to be 1225,750 t/year in 1993/4. 7
Efforts are underway to address pollution emanating from other sources. For example, methane originates mostly from garbage, nitrous oxide from the agricultural sector (fertilizers) and suspended particles from transport, the cement industry and waste burning. Future plans are to change the electricity plants to use natural gas instead of oil for their power generators which would substantially decrease the sulphur emissions and acid rain. A main threat to public health comes from the lead in leaded gasoline which can cause mental retardation. A study done by the American University of Beirut recommended that the use of leaded gasoline be reduced by 50%. Public transportation has improved with the introduction of a bus system, but is not yet well accepted by the wider public. Some cement factories in Chekka have installed filters which are expected to reduce lung disease in the local population.
After the ratification of the Montreal Protocol in 1993, the Ministry of Environment established an Ozone Office to prepare a schedule for the phasing out CFC's. Import restrictions were imposed on halons and the ministry has assisted industries (producing foam, refrigerators, etc) to shift to ozone friendly alternatives. The Ozone office also has undertaken a public awareness campaign at beaches to warn sunbathers of the high levels of harmful ultra-violet radiation, due to the ozone hole.
In September 1996 the Ministry of Environment enacted regulations which set standards for emissions and ambient air quality standards but difficulties are expected in the enforcement.
Deforestation
Years ago Lebanon, was almost completely covered by forests. By the beginning of this century, the area had been reduced to 15% . In 1991, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) executed a land cover map for Lebanon. It showed that Lebanon has only 2.9 of its coniferous and 4.2 of its deciduous forest left. Other reports cite the forest cover as being less than 5 %. According to international standards, 20% is the minimum forest cover for a healthy environment. The main reasons for the recent sharp decrease are the illegal and uncontrolled cutting of trees, forest fires and overgrazing.
Logging has been practised in Lebanon since ancient times, when the Pharaohs in Egypt used cedar wood in the construction of their palaces and pyramids. Charcoal and wood was also needed to fire metal smelters and to produce glass. By the time of the Romans, deforestation had already advanced to such a degree, that the Roman Emperor Hadrian (138-118 A.D.) declared several forests to be protected areas in which logging was illegal. During the construction of the Trans-Arabian railroad, the Turks added to the damage by cutting down forests to supply wood for the railroad tracks and other uses. The local population has always used wood in the construction of houses, heating and cooking. Charcoal was used for heating and for water pipes. Lebanese charcoal has been exported as far away as Australia.
Forest fires, which are practically an annual occurrence, have turned large areas into degraded scrubland. The fires are often caused by farmers who burn weeds on their fields or terraces, by the burning of garbage dumps or by hot charcoal left carelessly by people after a picnic. In some cases, glass litter can act as a magnifying lens for the sun and ignite a fire; other fires are started on purpose. After a fire, the soil is quickly washed away by rain and replanting in the depleted soil becomes a difficult endeavour.
The problems created by woodcutting and fires have been exacerbated by the numerous goat herds, which prevent the regrowth of trees and speed up soil erosion. The shepherds add to the damage when they cut off treetops to use it as fodder for their herds.
Soil Erosion
The main causes of soil erosion in Lebanon are deforestation, overgrazing, and the deterioration of the agricultural terraces. Soil erosion is affecting approx. 25% of Lebanon's total surface area. The rate of soil loss is estimated to be around 317 ton / hectare each year with an approximate cost of US $ 10.3 million per year.
With the increasing move of the rural population to the urban centres, many of the terraces that once covered the Lebanese mountains are collapsing. When the stone walls break down, the soil is washed away, resulting in the irreversible loss of topsoil. To maintain these terraces would cost about U.S. $6,000-8,000 per hectare. The cost of repair of all the terraces would amount to $250 million. The total budget of the Ministry of Agriculture in 1994 was only about US$ 25 million. Alternatively, the planting of trees could stabilize the soil on the unused terraces.
Uncontrolled Land Use
During the war, illegal construction was rampant and cities and settlements grew to cover areas that once were fertile agricultural land. The bustling construction activity after the war continues to add more buildings and with very little land use planning. This development must raise concern since only 25% of the total land area in Lebanon is arable land, while 52% 10 lies on difficult to farm, rocky surface. In addition, buildings and road construction on previously unused land have further decreased and segmented the habitat of wild species.
Ambitious projects such as the coastal highway, the airport, the reconstruction of the downtown area and other construction projects were in need of huge amounts of sand and rocks. Over 700 quarries (only 45% of them licensed) all over the country dug big holes in the once picturesque mountains and diminished the touristic value of the countryside. The quarrying and cement production, caused the deterioration of homes and habitats, and plants, animals and humans alike have been suffering the health effects from the resulting dust and air pollution. In some cases (e.g. the pre-historic caves next to the Nahr al-Kalb) quarrying has destroyed invaluable archaeological treasures or extraordinary sites of pristine nature which are now lost to the country forever.
Soil erosion through overgrazing by goats and sheep occurs all over Lebanon, but in particular in the of North Lebanon and it includes areas were the land is already severely degraded. Recently, grazing is being curtailed with an expected positive effect on the forest ecosystem.
Measures to Protect Land Resources
A few measures have been instituted to remedy the situation. In 1966, Lebanon has signed the International Convention on Desertification. Consequently, the Ministry of Agriculture initiated a five-year plan for aforestation of 40,000 hectares with the goal to eventually restore forested areas to 20% of the country. The Food and Agriculture Organization FAO estimated the country's need for new forest areas to be equivalent to 200,000 ha. At the current rate, it is possible that the 20% could be reached in about 2020, barring any loss of existing forest especially through forest fires. According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture, it has been estimated that an increase of 10% of the green cover could increase retention of precipitation by the soil by 8.6 million cubic meters which could provide and increase of revenues (from water) by $ 8.4 million and increase the area of irrigated land.
In addition, laws were issued by the Ministry of Agriculture that prohibit the cutting of trees, with fees and imprisonment for violators. The Green Plan Project was initiated to control soil erosion and undertook the restoration of many terraces Grazing is now forbidden in many areas and the number of goats is decreasing.
Data suggests that the total use of fertilizer has decreased over the last 20 years. Several NGO's organize workshops for farmers on the appropriate use of agrochemicals and the import of these substances is being monitored more effectively.
The Ministry of Environment has made several attempts in recent years
to restrict and organize quarrying operations, and the Cabinet approved
a National Master Plan for Quarries in 1997. The on-going exceptions to
quarry owners and the unclear procedures for licensing make the future
of quarrying unpredictable
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Courtesy of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon a highly recommended site.