The summer of 2025 was one fo the driest summer of all time in Lebanon according to Lebanese sources

Every day, we see water tanks going to supply water to houses and businesses. This year was the first time that Lebanese living in rural areas such as Akkar and Baalbek, where water has always been available, needed to purchase water; the public network didn’t supply any, and even deep-dug wells were dry.

People were forced to depend on private water tankers, which increased their monthly expenses and created constant anxiety.

The main problem is not the lack of water in Lebanon. The real issue is the collapse of the water distribution system, poor infrastructure maintenance, and unequal government investment between districts.

The Water Availability chart confirms the consequences of this gap:
– Akkar receives 240 units of water.
– Tripoli receives only 8 units.

This shows that water is not being transported equally to the districts and towns in Lebanon, even between towns of the same governorate. That can be explained by the lack of water infrastructure and a government vision of water distribution. It is worth mentioning that towns like Tripoli receive way less water than others (Akkar) even though they have bigger populations.

The Network Quality Index shows a massive gap between districts:
Akkar (blue dot) scored 110; Tripoli (red dot) scored only 6.

The network quality index shown in the graph above indicates that even the quality of the water available in districts is different. Some get high-quality water; others don’t.

Districts with high-quality water, such as Akkar, indicate a relatively strong and functioning network. While those with low quality, such as Tripoli, reflect broken pipes, leakage, and a failing system.

These numbers prove that where the network is weak, water does not reach people. This makes the crisis structural rather than environmental.

Several potential solutions can address this issue:

– Rehabilitating old pipe networks and replacing damaged infrastructure
– Creating fair distribution plans between districts
– Educating citizens on responsible water use
These solutions aim to fix the system instead of treating only the symptoms.

The most effective solution is investing in infrastructure renewal in low-performing districts, especially Tripoli.
This includes:
– Replacing broken water pipelines
– Stabilizing pumping stations
– Ensuring regular maintenance schedules

The validation of this solution comes directly from the data.

Districts like Akkar, which have better network quality, also enjoy higher water availability. This shows that improved infrastructure directly leads to better access.

Therefore, replicating the same infrastructure approach in weaker districts can significantly reduce inequality and improve reliability.

Lebanon does not suffer from a lack of water. It suffers from a lack of planning.

Water exists, but the system fails to deliver it fairly.
Access to water should not depend on where you live.
Water must be treated as a basic human right, not a privilege.