Second Greater Beirut Water Supply Project

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The proposed Project builds on the ongoing water reform agenda and the progress already achieved under the GBWSP, while addressing emerging challenges. The proposed Project (hereinafter “the Project” or “SGBWSP”) will finance the completion of the water supply infrastructure, ensuring the achievement of the objective of bringing additional water supply to extended areas of GBML. In addition, the Project will support the necessary add-ons to the Wardanieh WTP to manage increased levels of pollution expected at different times of the year. The SGBWSP will also support institutional strengthening to improve the operational and commercial performance of the BMLWE in line with the MoEW vision for the recovery of the sector outlined in the NWSS 2024-2035 and the conclusions of analytics funded by the World Bank and other donors. The project will consist of six components: Component 1: Completing remaining bulk water infrastructure.This component will finance investments to complete the remaining bulk water infrastructure started and significantly advanced under the GBWSP to ensure water is conveyed to the existing water supply distribution network serving the GBML area. It will also finance the required construction supervision services for all the works. The component will have the following subcomponents: (i) completion of the remaining tunnel and ancillary works; (ii) remaining Pipeline Works, which include the completion of the twin transmission pipelines; and (iii) construction of three regional reservoirs to increase the overall resilience and efficiency of the distribution system by allowing the BMLWE to regulate the flow of the stream depending on the fluctuations in water demand. Component 2: Strengthening treatment processes for improved water quality This component will finance adjustments (add-ons) to the Wardanieh WTP treatment processes to enhance the resilience of the Wardanieh WTP to variable raw water quality while maintaining operational costs within the financial capacity of the BMLWE. In addition, this component will finance activities to improve water quality management at the BMWLE, including the rehabilitation and upgrade of BMLWE’s laboratory at the Dbayeh through the expansion of existing facilities and the purchase of sufficient equipment, laboratory tools and chemicals, and the reinforcement of chlorination practices to ensure residual chlorine in BMWLE’s distribution network.Component 3: Reforms for improved utility operations This component will finance activities aimed at improving the operational, financial and customer orientation performance of the BMLWE, in alignment with the vision for the recovery of the sector in Lebanon. These activities are divided in three sub-components: (i) NRW reduction in four zones in the GBML area, namely Babdaa Suburbs, Coastal Metn, Tallet EL Khayat, and Bourj Abu Hadar (ii) modernization of BMLWE’s operational and commercial management systems, such as BMLWE’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure, the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, customer management processes, and entity audits; and (iii) improved communications, which will finance the development and implementation of the BMLWE’s Communications Strategy and the implementation of semi-annual public awareness campaigns. Component 4: Land Acquisition and Resettlement Compensation : This component will include land acquisition and resettlement compensation to displaced people for: (i) the reservoirs Hadath 90 and Hazmieh 90 to be constructed under subcomponent 1.3; (ii) a section of the twin transmission pipelines under subcomponent 1.2; (iii) the Joun Regulation Structure (JRS) to control the raw water flow to the WTP under subcomponent 1.1, and (iv) the land for the outflow of the Wardanieh WTP. The implementation of this component will follow the provisions of the resettlement action plan (RAP). Component 5: Project management and capacity building. This component will finance the operation of the Project Management Units (PMU). In addition, this component aims to address gaps in female representation in technical positions through focused training and capacity-building activities for women, enhancing their skills for technical and managerial positions. As such, this component will support an apprenticeship program that will target female participants to facilitate exposure to professional opportunities within BMLWE. The program will not be exclusive to women but will aim to have more than 50 percent of female participation. The BMLWE will benefit from the work of young and well-trained apprentices, while the new graduates will be certified on utility-related technical skills (like NRW reduction, SCADA management, asset management, etc.) and gain on-the-job experience that will enhance their competitiveness on the job market. Component 6: Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC). This component will have zero funding allocation at the onset and will only be triggered in emergency circumstances.