Lebanon (Enmaeya News) – October 28, 2025

The Litani River Authority issued the following statement:

“The National Litani River Authority has uncovered a serious food, health, and environmental scandal in the Bekaa region, specifically within the town of Makseh, where confirmed information revealed that a farmer has been irrigating large areas planted with potatoes and peas using sewage water.

Immediately, the Water Police Unit of the Authority rushed to the site and conducted a field inspection, which, through both visual and laboratory testing, confirmed that the crops were indeed being irrigated with sewage and wastewater. This poses a direct threat to public health and constitutes a clear violation of Food Safety Law No. 35/2015 and Water Law No. 192/2020, exposing consumers to severe risks due to contamination by bacteria and organic pollutants.

The inspection also revealed that the farmer had built a pond to collect wastewater and redirect it through a channel to his farmland for irrigation, in clear violation of public health and environmental regulations.

Accordingly, the National Litani River Authority has informed the General Directorate of State Security and the competent judicial authorities to take immediate legal action against the violator, shut down the source of pollution, and prevent the marketing or distribution of these crops in Lebanese markets, to protect citizens’ health and preserve water resources.

The Authority affirms that it will continue, in coordination with security agencies and relevant ministries, to carry out field monitoring campaigns to detect any illegal use of sewage water in agriculture and to prosecute all violators before the competent judicial authorities”.