Water management in Greater Damascus, a metropolitan area with more than 4 million inhabitants, is characterized by numerous challenges, such as overexploitation of groundwater, increased water demand, intermittent supply and pollution. These challenges could be exacerbated by the impact of climate change, as projections indicate that precipitation is likely to decrease. The quality of the residential water supply reflects the social divisions within the metropolitan area, with the poorest neighborhoods receiving the worst service. Irrigation in rural areas of Greater Damascus, in particular in Ghouta, still accounts for approximately 70% of water consumption in the metropolitan area, and the rest is used for residential, commercial and industrial use.
The government has responded to previous challenges by prohibiting the drilling of new agricultural wells, promoting irrigation techniques that save water, rehabilitating the distribution network to reduce leakage, investing heavily in wastewater treatment for reuse and experimenting with Groundwater recharge. However, none of these measures have been successfully completed so far. The reassignment of irrigation water to urban uses has also been suggested, but has never been seriously considered by the government for political reasons, including strong traditional ties of ruling Baath party to peasant union.
Water decision-making remains highly centralized. Ultimately, the President of Syria makes all the key decisions. Under it the responsibility for the water sector is fragmented among the different Ministries. One of them is the Ministry of Housing and Construction, which oversees the Damascus Water Supply and Sewage Authority, the public company of Greater Damascus. The Ministry of Irrigation also plays an important role in the sector.
The provision of drinking water and sanitation is not only a basic necessity of life; It is also crucial to achieving the goal of "Health for All". The Ninth Five-Year Plan provides for the provision of potable water to each settlement in the country and all possible measures for the rapid expansion and improvement of sanitation facilities in urban and rural areas. This will be achieved through an appropriate mix of state and state investments, institutional financing, strengthening of the operation and maintenance system and, more importantly, community participation in various stages of planning, implementation and maintenance. Although the provision of drinking water and sanitation is the primary responsibility of state governments and more specifically of local agencies, the Central Government has been complementing these efforts through financial and technological contributions through four Centrally Sponsored Programs: Accelerated Potable Rural Water Program , Program for the Supply of Small Cities below 20,000 inhabitants (according to the 1991 census), Rural Sanitation and Urban Sanitation Program of Low Cost for the Liberation of Scavengers. Some support programs go with these schemes as well.