SDG 14: Life Below Water

LAU Implements First Phase of Sustainable Waste Management of the Litani Basin

Engineering faculty members make headway in tackling the ecological and health hazards posed by pollution of the Litani Basin.

The pollution of the Litani River Basin, a vital source of irrigation and water supply with a potential for generating hydroelectric power that extends from the Beqaa to South Lebanon, has for many years been an untreated environmental and health disaster.

Recognizing the urgent need to reach a sustainable solution in managing the organic industrial waste contaminating the basin, LAU has been collaborating with the Litani River Authority to advance the use of anaerobic digestion of industrial wastewater discharge, and has now fully implemented the first phase of the three-phase project.

Anaerobic digestion is an innovative and effective technology for the biodegradation of organic waste whose by-product – methane gas, a cleaner fossil fuel ­– provides a much-needed alternative source of energy.

Spearheaded by LAU’s Associate Professor Mahmoud Wazne, who had obtained a PEER research grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for his proposal, the project will help the Litani River Authority provide clean water to residents of the Beqaa valley, and eventually Beirut, and relieve mainly poor communities in the region from water shortages and waterborne diseases.

“In this initial phase,” explained Dr. Wazne, “our team of LAU graduate students and industrialists collected and analyzed the organic materials of various samples from food factories to test the effectiveness of the treatment on each plant individually and collectively through mono digestion (single substrate) and co-digestion (combined substrates). We succeeded in improving the quality of the product and will be publishing our findings.”

The second phase, he added, “will be devoted to improving the treatment method based on a newly developed integrated bio-electrochemical reactor technology, in cooperation with Washington State University.” Ultimately, the project will raise “public awareness about anaerobic digestion and train young researchers on this sustainable treatment option.”

Dr. Wazne presented his findings and demonstrated anaerobic digestion for industrial organic wastewater to the Litani River Authority, Lebanese and American experts, and industries from the upper Litani Basin in the first of a series of workshops sponsored by USAID.  

Speakers at the online workshop, in addition to Dr. Wazne, included Dean of the School of Engineering Lina Karam, Chairman and General Director of the Litani River Authority Sami Alaweih and LAU Associate Professor of Civil Engineering Mustapha Harb.

The workshop covered the fundamentals and importance of anaerobic digestion in the production of biogas, a mixture of gases including methane, to show that not only is this method cost-effective and eco-friendly but can be a viable source of electric power.

Praising the cooperation with local and international partners – primarily LAU – and recognizing the magnitude of the problem, Dr. Alawieh said that the Litani River Authority had come to an agreement with hundreds of factories to observe environmental standards, but only 90 of them had complied by installing treatment facilities with uncertain results. In his view, this confirms the need for a unified opinion on the wastewater treatment mechanism to be used.

In order to establish urgent dialogue between all parties concerned, noted Dr. Wazne, the university has made headway with the research “despite all challenges, particularly the pressing economic crisis in Lebanon.” He also highlighted the resilience of the research team and the strong support provided by the Department of Civil Engineering.

In parallel with this project, LAU’s Dr. Harb is conducting a study on advancing innovative and sustainable wastewater treatment technologies for improved water reuse practices in Lebanon and across the Mediterranean basin, with funding from the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Program.

Dean Karam thanked USAID for providing funding in support of this impactful project. “We are very proud to have such life-changing work being pursued under the supervision of Dr. Wazne in collaboration with talented students and researchers in our School of Engineering with the aim to provide much-needed clean water to vulnerable communities in Lebanon,” she said.

“This project also contributes to the United Nations’ vital Sustainable Development Goals,” she added, “including Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and Life Underwater (SDG 14).”

	The team also collected wastewater samples from various food factories including a cheese plant.
	Organic industrial waste contaminating the Litani River Basin has led to severe health and environmental hazards. (Photo courtesy of the Litani River Authority)
	Dr. Wazne and his team of LAU graduate students and industrialists collect sludge samples at the wastewater treatment plant in Bkassine.

A USAID-funded Research Project on Industrial Wastewater Management Yields Sustainable Solution

In the final workshop of the project to treat waste streams in the Litani Basin, engineering faculty urge industries to apply new technology.

A research project by LAU in collaboration with the Litani River Authority to provide a sustainable solution to the pollution of the Litani River Basin has yielded an eco-friendly treatment technology that is effective on all organic waste streams.

Spearheaded by LAU’s Associate Professor of Civil Engineering who had secured a grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the project entailed perfecting a treatment method for agri-industrial waste based on a newly developed integrated bio-electrochemical reactor technology, in collaboration with Washington State University, and using the by-product, methane, to generate electricity.

This innovative technique for the biodegradation of organic waste could help the Litani River Authority protect the poor communities in the basin’s region from waterborne diseases, while at the same time providing a much-needed source of energy. It would also ensure a supply of clean water as far as Beirut in answer to water shortages.

As Lebanon’s food processing industries show no incentive to manage waste from their factories, said Dr. Wazne, an alternative was to examine biological treatments to produce a more nutrient-balanced waste stream “that can meet both industry and environmental needs.”

The project was conducted by Dr. Wazne in collaboration with Dr. Haluk Beyenal, professor and associate dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Washington State University; Dr. Stephanie Greige, postdoctoral fellow and research associate at LAU who is a specialist in microbial analysis; and Graduate Research Assistant at LAU’s School of Engineering, Civil Engineering Department, Mohamad Abdallah, in addition to other graduate and undergraduate students.

In the initial phase, the team analyzed the organic materials of various samples from food factories to test the effectiveness of the treatment on each plant.  In June, along with Dr. Moustapha Harb, currently assistant professor of Environmental Engineering at New Mexico Tech, they published their findings on anaerobic co‑digestion of cheese whey and poultry slaughterhouse wastewaters. In the second phase, the researchers improved the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor – an anaerobic reactor for treating high-strength wastewater ­– by bioelectrochemical enrichment.

On December 6, the School of Engineering held the second workshop sponsored by USAID, during which Dr. Wazne and his team presented experimental results for the treatment of different waste streams from the upper Litani Basin to show the high efficacy of anaerobic digestion, and galvanize industries to take action.

Among the attendees were specialists in wastewater treatment, environmentalists, civil engineers and engineering companies such as CDM Smith and Dar Al-Handasah, representatives from the wine industry, NGOs, and industries from the upper Litani Basin.

In addition to Dr. Wazne and his team, speakers included Dr. Sami Alawieh, chairman and general director of the Litani River Authority, Dr. Michel Khoury, dean of the School of Engineering, and Dr. Harb.

In his welcome address, Dr. Khoury said that wastewater treatment posed a great challenge in light of the serious health problems caused by contamination. Hence, the importance of the Litani Industrial Wastewater Treatment Project, as it “addresses a critical and operational concern and is therefore in line with the university’s vision to help and cooperate with the community in solving one of the country’s chronic and grave problems.”

In turn, Dr. Alawieh spoke about the partnership between USAID, LAU and the Litani River Authority that, since 2018, has aimed to lay the foundations for addressing industrial pollution in the upper Litani Basin, “the most dangerous among the river’s pollutants.”

Dr. Alawieh attributed the pollution largely to “administrations that approve licenses despite non-compliance with the set conditions, under the pretext of promoting Lebanese industry and developing the Beqaa region.” Wastewater management is costly, he added, but anaerobic digestion offers an affordable and sustainable option.

Noting that there were 600 factories and institutions that pour contaminated industrial wastewater into the upper Litani stream, Dr. Wazne spoke at length about the proposed treatment technique, namely biodegradation of organic waste that does not use fossil fuels with a potential saving of up to 1 kW/kg COD while also producing about 13.5 MJ (megajoules) of energy methane/kg of COD extracted, which can be used to generate power, via methane generation.

More than reducing the flow of pollutants into the river, the importance of this technology lies in the fact that it does not require energy or chemicals, he added, urging the funding institutions to support the establishment of a pilot treatment plant in the upper Litani Basin to demonstrate the effectiveness of anaerobic digestion at the industrial level.

“I received two visits from professionals in the industry who are interested in applying the developed technology in the field, at a factory in the upper Litani Basin,” said Dr. Wazne, “and I am pursuing this opportunity vigorously for the benefit of the community and to highlight the importance of the work being conducted at LAU.”

This project addresses SDGs 3, 6, 7, 11 and 14 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, namely Good Health and Well-Being, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Life Below Water.

To browse more scholarly output by the LAU community, visit our open-access digital archive, the Lebanese American University Repository (LAUR).

	The Litani Industrial Wastewater Treatment Project, said Dr. Khoury, is in line with the university’s vision to help the community resolve one of the country’s chronic and grave problems.
	Dr. Wazne and his team presented the experimental results for the treatment of different waste streams from the upper Litani Basin to show the high efficacy of anaerobic digestion and galvanize industries to take action.

Smart Irrigation System

Using the right amount of water to irrigate plants not only saves water (which is becoming scarce) but will also yield quality agricultural products. Sensors will monitor the temperature and soil humidity, and will turn on/off irrigation pumps when needed. LoRa sensors - long range wireless sensors requiring low power to operate - will be used. This system will be controlled from a mobile phone application.

Desired Disciplines

• Biology
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Marketing/Advertising

Team Leader

Dr. Jimmy Issa

Industry Partners

BCMS international

Energy Saving and Water Conservation

Energy Saving

Currently LAU consumes around 24 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electric energy and 5 million kWh of thermal energy per year, generating the equivalent of the CO2 emissions produced by around 7,000 cars.

Recognizing the importance both of environmental sustainability and of maximizing our community’s ability to work to its fullest capacity, we are constantly exploring ways to conserve energy, operate efficiently, and introduce renewable energy sources

Water Conservation

Our campuses use around 100,000 m3 of water annually, enough to fill nearly 40 Olympic swimming pools. We are tirelessly working to reduce our water consumption, harvest rain water and recycle gray water for irrigation.

Here is what we are doing to achieve these goals:

Green Awareness

We are continuously sensitizing the LAU community about the importance of energy and water resources and their conservation and actively engaging them in this endeavor.

We have launched an awareness campaign with tips for saving water on campus, in dorms, or at home. Posters were placed in restrooms and on bulletin boards throughout LAU, coupled with a short video on campus TV screens, the LAU website, and social media channels.

On August 26, 2022, the LAU Facilities Management Department in collaboration with the Association of Energy Engineers – Lebanon Chapter organized a site tour for LAU and non-LAU students. This initiative was part of the “internship in energy and sustainability” program by AEE Lebanon. Interns got the chance to tour the Byblos Campus, visit the High Performance Infrastructure Utilities as well as the LEED Gold Joseph Jabbra Library and Riyad Nassar Central Administration buildings.

Measure It to Manage It

A metering plan is underway for the whole university to establish benchmarks and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for continuous resource monitoring and management.

Pilot projects are underway at the Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury Health Sciences Center and the Tohme-Rizk Building in Byblos, as well as the Adnan Kassar School of Business and Wadad Sabbagh Khoury Student Center in Beirut.

Energy Efficiency and Renewables

We are implementing projects to reduce energy consumption and generate energy from renewables.

• The Byblos Library and Riyad Nassar Central Administration project features power and hot water generation from the sun.
• The same building will feature a solar tracking system.
• Beirut’s Wadad Sabbagh Khoury Student Center has been outfitted with a solar water heating system.
• Preliminary studies are underway for the introduction of solar water heating at Beirut’s indoor pool and the Byblos dorms.
• Several new and renovated classrooms and offices feature occupancy sensors that automatically regulate air-conditioning and lighting.
• CO sensors control the operation of the ventilators at the Byblos Underground Parking proportionally to the pollution level.
• We are currently retrofitting low consumption lighting fixtures throughout the university.

Water Efficiency and Re-use

We are implementing projects to reduce water consumption, harvest rain water and recycle water for irrigation.

• We have tested water saving devices in offices and dorms and implemented the same at the Tohme-Rizk building in Byblos as a pilot project, achieving savings of around 29 percent.
• Our Byblos campus features wastewater treatment plants. Treated water is being reused for irrigation, which will be further increased with the upcoming Byblos infrastructure project.
• The Byblos Library and Riyad Nassar Central Administration project features rain water harvesting and reuse.
• The Byblos Library and Riyad Nassar Central Administration project has been designed with low flow sanitary fixtures, achieving 35 percent water use reduction.
• We have surveyed all the water fixture types on the Byblos campus and are currently drafting a master plan to determine and implement possible further water saving measures.

Certify Your Space (initiative in progress)

We invite all departments, offices and units to implement sustainable practices into your day-to-day operations. This will motivate and engage participating staff to lower waste and consumption habits, improving their overall environmental performance while saving energy and water and reducing costs. 

The Physical Plant will recognize your work by certification, installing a plaque at your office in recognition of your achievement. We will also list your office online on LAU’s list of certified green offices.

Water Consumption Figures