South Lebanon Water Authority Issues Statement on Exclusive Water Sector Management

The South Lebanon Water Authority released a statement regarding the exclusivity of managing the water and sanitation sector within its jurisdiction. The authority emphasized its legal responsibility for managing the public water facility, safeguarding its networks and installations, and ensuring the consistent provision of services to citizens.

Firstly, the statement referenced Law No. 221 dated 29/5/2000 on water sector regulation and its amendments, particularly Laws No. 241 dated 7/8/2000 and No. 377 dated 14/12/2001. These laws assign public water institutions the exclusive tasks within their geographic scope of investing in, maintaining, and distributing potable and irrigation water, studying, implementing, and investing in sanitation projects, monitoring the quality of distributed water, proposing tariffs, and collecting them.

Secondly, Law No. 77 dated 13/4/2018 on water, as amended and reissued by Law No. 192 dated 16/10/2020, reinforced this exclusivity. It confirmed that water resources are part of public property and that any use, investment, or occupation of these resources or related facilities must follow legal procedures and be authorized or commissioned by competent authorities.

Thirdly, based on the above, the authority alerted all local and international associations, organizations, private institutions, and individuals that any activities, interventions, or projects concerning potable water or sanitation within its jurisdiction—including drilling wells, extending networks or installations, installing tanks, pumping or treatment stations, making connections to public networks, or any interference with the authority’s facilities and equipment—are not permitted without prior coordination and written approval from the authority according to established procedures.

The statement warned that any project executed or any alteration or creation of a facility or network without coordination could cause damage to infrastructure, interfere with the public network, affect the health and safety of beneficiaries, and negatively impact the authority’s maps, data, and classifications, thereby hindering or delaying future maintenance work.

Fourthly, the authority holds any party undertaking such works without prior coordination fully legally responsible for these actions and for any damage, destruction, or disruption caused to public networks, facilities, or service continuity. The authority reserves the right to pursue violators before the relevant judicial and administrative bodies and to remove violations at the expense of those responsible, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Fifthly, while the authority appreciates the efforts of donors, associations, organizations, municipalities, and public institutions supporting the water sector, it affirmed that cooperation and coordination are open through official channels. Any project implemented in coordination with the authority ensures integration with existing plans, prevents waste of efforts and resources, and preserves the integrity and sustainability of the public facility.

The statement also highlighted that direct communication and coordination, including requests for maintenance services or fuel according to standard procedural mechanisms through the relevant departments within the authority, facilitate timely provision and execution without wasting time or resources.

Finally, the authority stressed that adherence to these procedures is not a mere formality but guarantees citizens’ right to a regular and safe water service and protects a public facility for which the authority alone bears legal responsibility.