Damascus, (SANA)-The early flow of rivers and springs and the rising levels of groundwater in Damascus and its countryside are signs of hope for water recovery, said Director General of Water Resources Department Jamil Fallouh.

In a statement to al-Ba'ath daily newspaper, Fallouh added that water outflow of Barada and al-Awaj Rivers amounted to 13 cm/s and 7 cm/s, respectively, triggered by recent heavy rainfall.

A huge number of springs gushed out in the first two months of 2010 ahead of their usual time of appearance in March and April. Ein al-Fijeh spring outflow reached 11 cms, exceeding the water needs of Damascus city by 6 cm/s, Fallouh added.

He pointed out that the water storage levels in dams have also notably improved. Water storage of Wadi al-Qarn Lake reached its highest level of 1, 72 million cm. Storage levels of other lake dams amounted to 150, 000 cm in Majar al-Qalamoun Lake, 125, 000 cm in Dmeir Lake and 125, 000 cm in al-Manqoura Lake.

Haifa Said /Zahra