Educational Opportunities for Local Communities

Water management is a critical challenge in many Lebanese regions, and The University has a unique role to play in advancing solutions and educating communities. At LAU, initiatives extend beyond campus boundaries to address pressing local environmental issues, such as the pollution of the Litani River Basin.
A USAID-funded research project led by LAU, in collaboration with the Litani River Authority and Washington State University, focuses on developing eco-friendly industrial wastewater treatment technologies. This innovative project not only tackles organic waste biodegradation but also explores energy recovery through methane generation. These technologies aim to provide sustainable solutions for communities affected by waterborne diseases and pollution while engaging industries and stakeholders through workshops and research dissemination.
In addition to research, LAU hosts public events, awareness campaigns, and student-led initiatives to promote water conservation and sustainability, showcasing its commitment to educating local communities about water management practices.

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 Mahmoud Wazne 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.

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.

Beyond the Naked Eye: What Is Polluting the Lebanese Coast?

Dr. Akoury and his team of postdocs and undergrads fished for pharmaceuticals, heavy metals and microplastics in 40 locations across the coastline, hoping to inform future plans for treatment and policymaking.

The Lebanese coastline stretches for more than 220 kilometers along the Eastern Mediterranean and is home to the country’s capital and major cities, ports and tourist attractions. Lurking within the picturesque beaches, however, are alarming levels of pollutants, as one study by LAU Assistant Professor of Chemistry Elias Akoury has found.

For a research project funded by the U.S. -Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Tomorrow’s Leaders Program (TL), Dr. Akoury and his team set out to collect specimens from seawater, sediments, vegetation and soil from 40 locations along the Lebanese coast, from North to South. A previous study last year also explored microplastic pollution around the Palm Islands Natural Reserve.

“The main goal of the research is to investigate the levels of pharmaceuticals, heavy metals and microplastics to identify and assess the sources of health-associated hazards and investigate the most persistent and dominant derivatives,” said Dr. Akoury.

To do so, Dr. Akoury formed an LAU team of two post-doctoral fellows – Drs. Bilal Nehmeh and Fatima Haydous – supported by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research, as well as MEPI-TL undergraduate scholar Zohrab Abrahamian and senior chemistry undergrads Christopher Saab, Mariam Bou Orm, Sara Sabbagh and Bayan Abdlwahab.

Using several spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques, the research team identified and quantified the contaminants and their derivatives. The samples they are currently analyzing are 22 pharmaceutical byproducts, 20 microplastic components and 14 major, toxic-heavy metals such as mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, zinc, nickel and copper, among others.

The research results, together with the methodology, comprehensive analysis and guidelines are slated to be published in peer-reviewed journals. “Ongoing analysis and preliminary results have shown alarming levels of cadmium, lead, arsenic and molybdenum – a chemical element – in wastewater, in addition to contamination with phthalates,” revealed Dr. Akoury.

Phthalates, hormone-disrupting chemicals released by plastics, can interfere with the male sex hormone, reduce female fertility and increase birth defects.

As health safety is a major concern, public awareness should be raised about the effects of water pollution and which beach spots are safe for swimming and fishing once the project is finalized and contaminated areas are defined. Recommendations will vary depending on the location along the Lebanese coast. Strategic plans pertaining to safe waste disposal should also be implemented to reduce the absorption of heavy metals, water treatment, and wastewater management.

One of the most crucial strategies for controlling plastic pollution, said Dr. Akoury, “is by engaging the private sector and encouraging people to use alternatives to plastic products and packaging.” As for the public sector, he confirmed that the research findings will be shared with concerned ministries to help inform and revise the current national plan and implement quality monitoring systems.

Asked whether the study will touch on the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, Dr. Akoury said that the analysis will be focused on chemical contaminants, although the experiments they are acquiring will give some indication if bacteria are present.

Ultimately, the research opens the door to investigating other water sources for contaminants, as well as expanding the study to include air and soil pollution. Specific research findings, such as confirming the presence of heavy metals and phthalates in water, have pushed the researchers to study the pharmaceutical byproducts that could contaminate the water in the areas where pharmaceuticals and hospitals operate.

Every Drop Counts | Water Conservation

Raising awareness on water conservation is a priority at the Lebanese American University. As part of its Strategic Plan, LAU launched a campaign that provides its community with tips on how to preserve this precious resource. This engaging video aims at showing students that they can make a difference through a series of positive daily actions.

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.

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

Site tour for Energy & Sustainability interns of the AEE Lebanon