The Nmairiye wastewater pumping station (WWPS) in South Lebanon was initially constructed in 2012 with the aim of pumping wastewater from the villages of Deir El Zahrani, Habbouch, and Kfar Roummane to the Charqieh wastewater treatment plant. However, the Nmairiye station was never fully operational as it lacked an access road and other vital equipment. In response, in July 2023, USAID’s Community Support Program (CSP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW) and the South Lebanon Water Establishment (SLWE), constructed a 1,200 m access road, upgraded the pumping station’s electro-mechanical equipment, and installed a new generator.

However, the sustainability of this intervention was hindered by the country’s economic crisis, which forced the majority of the country’s treatment plants to cease operations, including Charqieh wastewater treatment plant which halted operations in April 2022. This hindered the operations of the Nmairiye wastewater pumping station which is contingent on the Charqieh plant. To ensure the use and sustainability of USAID’s investment, CSP closely collaborated with the MoEW and SLWE and other international donors, including the European Union (EU) and UNICEF, to advocate for the resumption of operations at Charqieh treatment plant. In March 2024, the SLWE, with the support of UNICEF and funding from the EU, restored the operation of Charqieh’s primary treatment process, enabling the full operation of the Nmairiye wastewater pumping station on April 5, 2024. The station is currently being operated through a CSP contractor until March 2025, successfully pumping 6,800 m3 of wastewater daily and benefitting 51,000 residents. In parallel, CSP is providing on-the-job training to SLWE technicians who will assume full responsibility of operating the station past that period.

“This project showcases USAID’s valuable contributions to the welfare of residents in South Lebanon. This is a fruitful and successful collaboration to mitigate water pollution and the health risks associated with it”, said Dr. Wasim Daher, SLWE Director General.