Environment Minister Mohammad Mashnouq announced Friday that the World Bank had approved a loan of $55 million to stop pollution in the Qaraoun Lake and Litani River.
Tests conducted by the South Lebanon Water Authority indicate that 37 percent of Litani River’s water is polluted.
Sewage, human excrement and runoff from nearby quarries and other industries have turned the water from a clear blue to a brownish muck, in addition to the emission of foul smells and the contamination of groundwater reserves.
Separately, the health Ministry has warned nationals not to eat fish from the Bekaa Valley’s Qaraoun Lake after a large number of fish were found dead.