A grant agreement was signed June 11 between the Council for Development and Reconstruction and the German Government to carry out the third phase of a project to provide safe drinking water to Beirut and surroundings.

Under the agreement, a grant of $9 million will be used to protect Jeita spring, which provides potable water to more than half of the households in the capital.

The project will include the construction of wastewater networks and a treatment plant in Zouk Mosbeh.

The German government’s contribution to this on running project rose to $26 million after it funded parts of the first and second phases with $17 million.

Funds will be received through the German Bank for Development-KFW.