The Beirut and Mount Lebanon Water Authority announced in a statement that "in response to the statement issued by Electricité du Liban regarding the payment of electricity consumption bills in cash or through a new account (fresh) at the request of the Central Bank, and not through bank transfers as was customary, under the penalty of cutting power to those who fail to comply, it is important for the authority to clarify that, in accordance with Electricité du Liban's decision and due to the strictness of oil facilities regarding the payment for diesel fuel in cash or via a new account (fresh) and not accepting bills in local currency as before, it is no longer able to secure diesel fuel to operate the water pumping stations that run on generators. This is due to the fact that the authority does not have hard currency. Additionally, there is the challenge of being informed by donor entities that securing additional funding for the maintenance of pumping stations and wells and ensuring their continued operation is not possible. Consequently, necessary repairs on the pumping equipment will not be able to be carried out as this often requires securing materials and spare parts from abroad in hard currency, which is impossible to obtain through the contractors currently working with the authority in local currency."
The authority continued: "Accordingly, it will regrettably be forced to adopt a strict rationing system that could lead to a complete lack of water in areas supplied by the main pumping stations that operate on generators." The statement concluded: "The Beirut and Mount Lebanon Water Authority, while reminding that it, out of consideration for the citizens, has not imposed any increase in subscriptions for the current year and has maintained the option to pay via POS at its approved service centers, emphasizes the urgent need to find general and rapid solutions that both alleviate the suffering of subscribers and assist public institutions struggling to maintain continuity."
