The Lebanese government has invited companies to submit bids for a contract to provide and install pumping stations, reservoirs and distribution networks for the Greater Beirut Water Supply Project.

Companies have until 6 May to submit bids for the tender, which is being handled by the Beirut and Mount Lebanon Water Establishment (BMLWE).

The work will involve providing and installing pumping stations, reservoirs and distribution networks for Zone B of the Greater Beirut water scheme. Zone B includes the areas of Haret Es Sitt, Wadi Chahrour, Merdash, Louaize, Hazmieh and Chiah, among others.

The government has received a loan from the Washington-based International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) to fund the scheme.

The estimated $200m Greater Beirut Water Supply Project is designed to strengthen the capacity of the BMLWE, the utility provider responsible for the operation and efficiency of urban water supply in the area. The scheme is planned to improve water supply for more than 2 million people in Southern Beirut.

Lebanon’s government has been planning ways to improve the water supply in Greater Beirut since the early 1960s. The project will involve increasing the supply of drinkable water and improve the pipes running into buildings in Beirut. The proposed water supply scheme will involve constructing two water tunnels, three big storage reservoirs, 16 supply reservoirs, a water treatment plant and new smaller pipelines, pumping stations and household meters.

In October 2013, contractors were invited to submit bids for the contract to build a tunnel and transfer lines for the Greater Beirut water scheme.