Lebanon’s Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) has invited contractors to prequalify for a contract to build a tunnel and pipeline for the estimated $200m Greater Beirut Water Supply Project (GBWSP).

Contractors have until 1 March 2012 to submit prequalification documents for the GBWSP project.

The project is designed to strengthen the capacity of the Beirut Mount Lebanon Water Establishment, the utility responsible for the operation and efficiency of the urban water supply in the area. The project is planned to improve water supply for more than 2 million people in Southern Beirut.

The CDR, working together with Lebanon’s Energy and Water Ministry, received approval from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) in December 2010 for a loan to cover the project.

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 GWSP will involve building two water tunnels, three big storage reservoirs, 16 supply reservoirs, a water treatment plan and new smaller pipelines, pumping stations and household metres.

Experts have warned that unless Lebanon does not upgrade its water network, the state could suffer from chronic water shortages by as soon as 2020.