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Water management in Greater Damascus, a metropolitan area with more than 4 million inhabitants, is characterized by numerous challenges, such as overexploitation of groundwater, rising 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 the strong traditional ties of the governing Baath party to the peasant union. Instead of vigorously promoting local solutions, the government continues to contemplate the large-scale transfer of water from Lake Assad to the Euphrates River through an expensive megaproject.

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.