Lebanon is facing an intensifying drought that threatens both drinking water supplies and the country’s agricultural production, an expert warned on Monday.

Dr. Michel Antoine Afram, chairman and director general of the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, said rainfall is not expected before October 15, raising the risk of widespread water scarcity.

“Water shortages will dominate Lebanon’s surface and groundwater resources, putting the current agricultural season at serious risk,” he was quoted as saying by the National News Agency.

Drinking water supplies are also at risk of an unprecedented decline.

“If forecasts are accurate, any rainfall before mid-October may be light and insufficient to replenish groundwater,” Afram added.

He called for strict rationing of drinking water and the use of modern irrigation techniques for crops, noting that most farms will not have enough water this autumn.

“This will negatively impact agricultural output in terms of quantity, quality, and prices,” he said.

Afram also highlighted the contamination of remaining water sources.

“Many regions are already suffering from shortages, and the limited surface and groundwater that remains is polluted by sewage and wastewater, making it unsafe for use,” he said, urging the government to declare a water emergency to address the crisis.