Lebanon is entering a critical water crisis as large volumes of sewage seep into natural rivers and underground aquifers, posing a direct threat to public health, an environmental expert warned.

In an interview with Voice of Lebanon radio, environmental expert Doumet Kamel said that recent tests on groundwater samples showed alarming levels of contamination, with many samples found to be mixed with untreated wastewater.

“This is a serious risk to the daily health and safety of the Lebanese people,” Kamel said, urging the immediate development of a national water emergency plan.

He called for the plan to be overseen by the Beirut and Mount Lebanon Water Establishment, in coordination with environmental experts and engineers.

“A coordinated effort is urgently needed to mitigate this crisis before it spirals further out of control,” he said.

Kamel also raised concerns over the depletion of artesian wells, which he said have dried up due to their overuse in agricultural irrigation. The strain on these water sources, compounded by poor infrastructure and lack of regulation, has left large areas of the country increasingly vulnerable to water scarcity.

Looking ahead, Kamel expressed hope that seasonal rainfall would not be delayed this year, stressing the importance of steady precipitation during the fall and winter months.