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🛒 تسوق الآنLibya Restores Water Supply to Zliten After Groundwater Crisis
Libya Restores Water Supply to Zliten After Groundwater Crisis
Minister Bin Ghayloun Orders Immediate Action to Stabilize Water Flow in Flood-Affected City
The Libyan Government of National Unity, through its Minister of Local Government Mohamed bin Ghayloun, has issued an urgent directive to the Man-Made River Project Authority to restore normal water supply to the city of Zliten. The move follows weeks of technical interventions aimed at addressing a severe groundwater flooding crisis that disrupted daily life for thousands of residents.
Successful Technical Measures Pave the Way
According to the Ministry of Local Government, the directive comes after the successful implementation of technical procedures that significantly lowered groundwater levels in the most affected areas of Zliten. A specialized higher technical committee had been formed to assess the situation and recommend solutions, with its findings now forming the basis for the next phase of the recovery effort.
The ministry confirmed that these engineering interventions achieved their primary objective: reducing the water table in residential and agricultural zones that had experienced abnormal rises over recent months.
Valve Reopening and Coordination with Water Authority
Central to the minister's directive is the instruction to reopen the water supply valve serving Zliten and operate it throughout the week. This must be carried out in close coordination with the General Water and Sanitation Company, the state entity responsible for water distribution and wastewater management across Libya.
The ministry emphasized that the restored water flow must be maintained at stable levels to prevent further disruptions. The directive also calls for preserving the hydrological gains achieved during the emergency response, ensuring that the groundwater table remains under control even as regular water supply resumes.
A City Under Pressure from Rising Groundwater
Zliten, a coastal city located about 160 kilometers east of Tripoli, has been grappling with an unusual and dangerous rise in groundwater levels over the past several months. The phenomenon affected multiple neighborhoods, causing water to seep into homes, damage infrastructure, and create public health concerns. Local residents raised alarms as streets turned into pools of standing water and building foundations showed signs of strain.
The situation prompted the Government of National Unity to deploy technical teams to the city to assess the scale of the problem and implement emergency drainage and pumping operations. These efforts were coordinated between the Ministry of Local Government, the Man-Made River Authority, and municipal authorities in Zliten.
Why Groundwater Is Rising in Libyan Coastal Cities
Groundwater flooding is a recurring challenge in several Libyan coastal municipalities, including Zliten. Experts attribute the phenomenon to a combination of factors: rising sea levels linked to climate change, aging or inadequate drainage infrastructure, over-extraction of groundwater that alters underground pressure dynamics, and heavy seasonal rainfall that saturates the soil beyond capacity.
In Zliten's case, the situation was exacerbated by disruptions to the regular water supply system, which in turn affected how groundwater was being drawn and managed in the region. The government's integrated approach — tackling both the immediate flooding and restoring the piped water network — reflects an understanding of these interconnected challenges.
Broader Implications for Libya's Water Infrastructure
The Zliten crisis highlights a wider vulnerability in Libya's water infrastructure. Decades of conflict have left water treatment plants, pumping stations, and pipeline networks underfunded and poorly maintained. The Man-Made River Project, one of the largest irrigation and water supply projects in the world, continues to face operational challenges, including sabotage, funding shortfalls, and technical breakdowns.
For the nearly 200,000 residents of Zliten, the restoration of water supply is a welcome step — but many are also calling for long-term solutions that address the root causes of groundwater flooding and ensure the resilience of the water network against future shocks.
Local civil society groups have urged the government to invest in modern drainage systems, conduct regular hydrological surveys, and establish an early warning mechanism for groundwater fluctuations in vulnerable coastal areas.
— Libya Press / News Desk
