"EcoLur" Informational NGO receives alarm signals from residents of Armavir Region that they have to buy drinking water from mobile tankers or stationary points.due to poor quality water flowing from taps in the region, However, there is no control over the safety of the sold water and compliance with the norms.
On July 31, "EcoLur" Informational NGO sent a request to RA Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan. On August 6, Armine Avoyan, Deputy General Secretary of RA Health Ministry, answered our questions.
Below we present the questions and answers.
EcoLur: Does RA Health Ministry carry out research and control of water sold from mobile tankers and stationary points sold in Armavir? If so, please inform us about the results.
RA Health Ministry: Drinking water sold from mobile tankers and stationary points is "packaged drinking water" according to the technical regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union "On the safety of packaged drinking water, including natural mineral water". It is a legal act and its requirements are monitored by the relevant inspection body.
EcoLur: What health problems can the increase in mineralization in the underground waters of the Ararat valley cause if that water is used for drinking and washing?
RA Health Ministry: "Mineralization" indicator, according to current scientific data, mainly affects the sensory properties of water and the negative impact of water mineralization on human health has not been proven.
According to Decree No. 876 of RA Health Minister dated on December 25, 2002, "Total mineralization (dry residue)" indicator was defined, the limit of which is not more than 1000 (1500) mg/l.
EcoLur: Has RA Health Ministry increased the norm of drinking water for the Ararat valley from 7 mg eq/l to 15 mg eq/l due to the lack of other sources of drinking water in the Ararat valley?
RA Health Ministry: According to Decree No. 876 of RA Health Minister dated on December 25, 2002, the permissible limit concentration of "Total hardness" indicator is no more than 7.0 (10) mmol/l, it has not been changed since the adoption of this decree.
EcoLur: To what extent is irrigation of crops with sewage water safe for health in Artashar?
RA Health Ministry: Substances present in wastewater have an indirect effect on human health (only through penetration of food and/or wastewater into the water supply system). Indicators of safety of microbiological and chemical composition in food are laid down in the normative legal acts in food safety sector, including the Eurasian Economic Union (Customs Union) Commission.
It should be noted that the policy in the mentioned areas is developed by the relevant bodies of the state administration system, and the control is carried out by the relevant inspection bodies.
EcoLur: How often does the Ministry carry out studies of drinking water in Artashar and did it detect deviations?
RA Health Ministry: The requirements for the quality of drinking water are laid down in Decree No. 876 of RA Health Minister dated on December 25, 2002, according to which, in the context of drinking water quality control, production control must be carried out by the organization operating the water supply system. The control over compliance with the requirements of the mentioned decree is carried out by Inspection Body carrying out control authorized by the Government of the Republic of Armenia.
At the same time, RA Health Ministry is conducting independent state monitoring of the quality of drinking water supplied to the population, according to the results of which deviations were recorded in 5.6% of drinking water samples taken in Artashar settlement in 2023, and in 16.7% in 2024. This information is submitted to Health and Labor Inspection Body. It should be noted that deviations were recorded only in microbiological indicators.
This article has been prepared with the financial support of the Center for Media Initiatives within the framework of "Expanding Creation of Independent Media Content" grant project.
August 08, 2024 at 15:46