Litani River Authority Halts Blue Spring Water Transfer for Irrigation to Boost Hydropower

The Litani River National Authority announced "the cessation of transferring water from the Blue Spring in West Bekaa to the Qasmiya and Ras al-Ain irrigation projects, effective from this morning, and directing these waters toward the Authority's hydropower generation plants, with the aim of utilizing them to boost electrical production and increase energy output," noting that "this measure coincides with the start of the rainy season and falls within the framework of seasonal water resource management and regulating distribution between agricultural uses and hydropower production, ensuring optimal utilization of available water."

It added in a statement: "Accordingly, water supply to the Qasmiya and Ras al-Ain irrigation projects during this phase will be limited to quantities available from other springs located downstream of the Qaraoun Dam. The Authority calls on farmers benefiting from the project to take into account the decrease in water volumes entering irrigation networks, organize irrigation operations, and rationalize water consumption in line with available quantities, to ensure proper utilization and meet agricultural needs according to available capacities."

The Authority affirmed that "this measure is part of its operational plan for managing water resources at the beginning of the rainy season, balancing the requirements of agricultural irrigation with enhancing hydropower production, and maintaining the efficient investment of available water resources."