Litani River Authority teams and civil society representatives take part in two days of practical learning on wastewater assessment, treatment and pollution prevention.
SPNL held a two-day training at Aana Municipality in the Bekaa on 6 and 8 October 2026 to strengthen local skills in assessing and addressing dairy wastewater pollution.
The training brought together six members of the Litani River Authority’s (LRA) field and laboratory teams, alongside representatives of local civil society organisations. It formed part of SPNL’s DIMFE-funded project, “Sustainable Water Ecosystems Restoration: Reviving the Upper Litani River and Qaraoun Lake.”
A programme informed by capacity needs
Before developing the programme, the dairy wastewater treatment expert assessed gaps in the LRA field and laboratory teams’ technical knowledge and capacity. The resulting training connected wastewater sources inside dairy factories with field assessment, laboratory analysis and treatment decisions.
This approach complemented SPNL’s assessments of local dairy facilities, addressing the knowledge needed to understand the challenges identified on site.
Understanding pollution sources and treatment options
The first day examined how dairy production, whey and cleaning processes contribute to wastewater pollution. Participants explored key water quality parameters, the difference between pollutant concentration and total pollution load, and the importance of measuring wastewater flow.
Sessions also covered whey recovery, screening, equalisation, pH correction and biological treatment. Discussions emphasised how treatment stages work together and how technology choices should reflect wastewater characteristics.
Turning monitoring results into recommendations
The second day focused on treatment system design, operation and troubleshooting. Topics included aeration, biological processes, pumps and blowers, sludge management, routine monitoring and maintenance—issues closely related to the operational difficulties identified during factory assessments.
A practical assessment session brought these topics together through factory inspection methods, sampling considerations, interpretation of laboratory results and a case-study exercise. Participants explored how to identify pollution and treatment problems and formulate technical recommendations.
Participants contributed actively to discussions and the practical exercise, showing strong interest in developing their understanding of dairy wastewater management and applying it in their work.
The training was delivered with support from the Donors’ Initiative for Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems (DIMFE).
