Deir el Ahmar, a village in Baalbek-Hermel governorate, is home to 9,000 Lebanese residents and more than 4,000 refugees. The sustained presence of refugees and increased water demands have left residents struggling with water shortages. Moreover, amidst the economic crisis and state electricity provision down to 2 hours per day, the Deir el Ahmar municipality and the Beqaa Water Establishment (BWE) were unable to afford operating the back-up generator that powers the village’s pump, fueling communal tensions over basic service provision. In response, USAID’s Community Support Program (CSP) is installing a Photovoltaic (PV) solar farm to provide continuous power to the village water pumping station. Additionally, CSP is rehabilitating the station, and constructing chlorination and electrical rooms to ensure water treatment and updated electromechanical systems.

On July 20, 2023, CSP kicked off rehabilitation and preparatory groundworks in Deir el Ahmar’s water pumping station, including dismantling existing downtrodden pumping equipment, and conducting required cable and pump testing. This intervention is expected to be completed in December 2023, and will enhance sustainable domestic water supply to 13,000 residents, all while reducing municipal and BWE electrical costs, and household trucking water expenses.

“This timely and urgent USAID assistance will ensure water provision to Deir el Ahmar’s expanded population, and lessen municipal financial burdens amidst this economic crisis through renewable energy solution”, stated Sami Habchi, Deputy Mayor of Deir el Ahmar.