Water demand in Yerevan increases year by year due to urban development, population growth, and climate change. The increase in demand is also noted in Yerevan’s new master plan, approved by the City Council of elders on September 10, 2024 (link to document). According to the new master plan, the city’s demand for water for drinking and pruduction purposes will rise from the current 254.563 thousand m³/day to 330.932 thousand m³/day in the long term. Demand for technical-quality water for pruduction needs is projected to rise from the current 50.889 thousand m³/day to 66.156 thousand m³/day.
At the same time, the master plan shows that the reserves of some of Yerevan’s drinking water sources are either not confirmed or require reassessment. Out of 13 water sources, 5 — Arzakan, Gyumush, Arzni, Tsarav aghbyur, and Getamej — have unconfirmed reserves. For 3 sources — Garni, Aparan, and Katnaghbyur — a review or reassessment is noted as necessary. Only 2 sources — Dzoraghbyur and the Yerevan HPP — have confirmed reserves. In the case of Arinj, the source is indicated as possible to reserve for strictly necessary conditions. For Shor-Shor, it is mentioned that its suitability for Yerevan’s drinking water supply must be reassessed. For Gay-Haykashen Arakelyan I-II and III-IV phases, no information is provided at all.
EcoLur sent an inquiry to the RA Ministry of Environment to clarify:
- Does the Ministry assess the condition of the reserves of water sources supplying drinking and technical water to Yerevan, in order to have a clear picture of resources amid climate change and the need for rational water use?
- Has it studied which new water sources will be exploited to meet demand, given the increase in Yerevan’s water needs due to urban development?
- On what basis is water supply carried out from unassessed sources, and are there water use permits for these sources, and in what volumes?
In its letter № 5/07.3/9983 dated 05.09.2025, the Ministry of Environment provided no information on assessing the condition of reserves or studies for exploiting new sources. A review of information on water use permits (WUPs) shows that “Veolia Jur” CJSC has received WUPs to extract water both from sources with unconfirmed reserves and from those requiring reassessment or feasibility evaluations. The Ministry’s letter states:
“From February 23, 2018, to February 23, 2023, the Ministry of Environment issued water use permits to “Veolia Jur” CJSC, which, upon the company’s application in 2022, were extended under the same conditions until August 21, 2028.
A total of 43 WUPs were issued, including 9 for the city of Yerevan. According to these permits, wastewater disposal from Yerevan is carried out at 2 points: Point 1 — from the Aeration treatment plant to the Hrazdan River, and Point 2 — to the Hrazdan River. Information on valid WUPs issued to “Veolia Jur” CJSC is available at http://swcadastre.env.am/.
For Yerevan’s water supply, “Veolia Jur” CJSC carries out water abstraction and wastewater disposal in accordance with the conditions and requirements of the WUPs issued by the Ministry of Environment.”
“Veolia Jur” CJSC provided EcoLur with some data on changes in the reserves of water resources supplying Yerevan. In its letter № MTS/33933 dated 17.09.2025, the company wrote:
“It was revealed that between 2013 and 2023 the yield of water sources decreased by about 24%. In addition, due to the unprecedented pace of construction, the sharp increase in consumers is leading to additional water demand, resulting in a water deficit and the need to expand and strengthen infrastructure.
According to our calculations, during 2017–2024 alone, more than 2000 l/s of technical capacity has been allocated to economic operators, which constitutes about 20% of the water supplied to Yerevan.
Given the current trend of the city’s development, the company has presented its concerns to the RA Government and relevant bodies, and studies and discussions are currently underway in this regard.”
“Veolia Jur” clarified that under the lease agreement signed with the RA Government starting January 1, 2017, the company took over the right to operate the water supply and sanitation systems, which are state-owned and were under the Water Committee of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, in their existing technical condition. According to the agreement, “Veolia Jur” is responsible only for operation, maintenance, and repair of the leased assets. The company’s investment obligation for ensuring normal water supply and sanitation across the service area is limited to 40.86 billion AMD (excluding VAT) under the “Mandatory Capital Works Program” for the 15-year lease term, which is insufficient to solve the system’s existing problems, reconstruct, or modernize it. Financing of major repairs, network expansion, and capital works is the responsibility of the lessor — the RA Government (via the Water Committee) — and local self-government bodies.
At the same time, “Veolia Jur” notes that for decades sufficient investments have not been made to ensure system reliability, to strengthen existing infrastructure or build new systems to meet the growing needs of Yerevan, or to involve new water sources.
According to Yerevan Municipality’s official website, from 2014 to 2023, a total of 23,995 construction permits and 14,564 design permits were issued in the city.
At a recent press conference, Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan, responding to EcoLur’s question on whether Yerevan has sufficient water resources to service new buildings given the pace of construction, said:
“This question should be directed to our government partners and “Veolia Jur”, who are negotiating this matter specifically, since a new water pipeline must be built from a new source that will provide a completely new line for Yerevan. But for now, at least, good or bad, water supply is being provided.
We should also consider that water losses are decreasing year by year, thanks to the work of “Veolia Jur.”
It should be noted that the only prospective drinking water source for Central Armenia — where the capital Yerevan is located — is the Ararat artesian basin’s groundwater, which is decreasing year by year due to overexploitation and climate change.
September 19, 2025 at 16:22