River Basin Management Plan For Akhuryan Basin Management Area (Akhuryan and Metsamor River Basins)

EnvironmentalProtectionof
InternationalRiverBasinsProject
ContractNo.2011/279666
Thisprojectisfundedby
AprojectimplementedbyaConsortium
TheEuropeanUnion
ledbyHulla&Co.HumanDynamicsKG
RIVERBASINMANAGEMENTPLANFOR
AKHURYANBASINMANAGEMENTAREA
(AKHURYANANDMETSAMORRIVERBASINS)
PRESSUREIMPACTANALYSISREPORT
Preparedby:
JointVentureofResourceManagementLLCandEnvironmentalPolicyAnalysisNGO
June2014

TableofContents
1.METHODOLOGY..............................................................................................................................5
2.DRIVERS..........................................................................................................................................6
2.1.Agriculture.............................................................................................................................................6
2.2.Fishfarming...........................................................................................................................................9
2.3.Hydropower...........................................................................................................................................9
2.4.Waterabstractionandservices.........................................................................................................12
2.4.1.Waterabstractionforcommunalpurposes..........................................................................15
2.4.2.Waterabstractionforirrigation............................................................................................16
2.4.3.Industrialwaterabstraction..................................................................................................20
2.4.4.Waterabstractionforhydropowergeneration.....................................................................20
2.4.5.Waterabstractionforfishfarming........................................................................................20
2.4.6.Communalwastewater.........................................................................................................21
2.5.Industry................................................................................................................................................21
2.6Tourism.................................................................................................................................................24
2.7.Solidwastelandfills.............................................................................................................................25
2.8.Transport.............................................................................................................................................26
2.9.Futureinfrastructuredevelopment...................................................................................................28
3.TYPESOFPRESSURES....................................................................................................................29
3.1.Pointsourcepollution........................................................................................................................29
3.1.1.Communalwastewaterdischarge,includingthewastewaterpits........................................29
3.1.2.Wastewaterdischargefromfoodindustry............................................................................32
3.1.3.Wastewaterdischargefromnonfoodindustryandmining..................................................33
3.1.4.Solidwastes..........................................................................................................................34
3.2.Diffusesourcesofpollution...............................................................................................................35
3.2.1.Cultivationofagriculturalcropsanduseoffertilizers...........................................................35
3.2.2.Livestockproduction.............................................................................................................36
3.2.3.Vehicletransport..................................................................................................................38
3.3.Hydromorphologicalalterations........................................................................................................39
3.3.1.Waterabstraction.................................................................................................................39
3.3.2.Diversionofriverflow...........................................................................................................44
3.3.3.Floodprotection...................................................................................................................45
4.IMPACTS.......................................................................................................................................46
4.1.Approachusedtoassesstheimpactsofthepressures...................................................................46
4.2.Assessmentofbiologicalstatus.........................................................................................................46
4.3.Assessmentofchemicalstatus..........................................................................................................49
4.4.Assessmentofhydromorphologicalstatus.......................................................................................52
5.SIGNIFICANTWATERMANAGEMENTISSUESANDDATAGAPS......................................................54
5.1.IdentifiedsignificantwatermanagementissuesinAkhuryanBMA...............................................54
5.2.MajordatagapsinAkhuryanBMA....................................................................................................55
5.3.ProposalforthesecondJointFieldSurvey.......................................................................................56
Annex1.EcologicalNormsofWaterQualityinRiversofAkhuryanBasinManagementArea..............58
Annex2.AssessmentoftheChemicalStatusofWaterResourcesinAkhuryanBMA............................60
Annex3.RapidBiologicalAssessmentDeterminationScheme.............................................................69
TableofTables

Table1:CropgrossproductionintheAkhuryanRiverbasin........................................................................................6
Table2:NumberoflivestockintheAkhuryanRiverbasin,thousandcapita................................................................7
Table3:CropgrossproductionintheMetsamorRiverbasin.......................................................................................7
Table4:NumberoflivestockintheMetsamorRiverbasin..........................................................................................8
Table5:CharacteristicsofsmallHPPsoperatingintheAkhuryanBasinManagementArea........................................9
Table6:CharacteristicsofsmallHPPsinconstructionintheAkhuryanBasinManagementAreas............................10
Table7:CharacteristicsofthecanalsofAkhuryanRiverbasin...................................................................................17
Table8:CharacteristicsofthepumpingstationsoftheAkhuryanRiverbasin...........................................................18
Table9:CharacteristicsofthecanalsofMetsamorRiverbasin.................................................................................19
Table10:CharacteristicsofthepumpingstationsofMetsamorRiverbasin..............................................................19
Table11:StructureoftheindustrialproductofAkhuryanRiverbasinbybranchesofindustry,%............................22
Table12:RelativelylargeenterprisesinAkhuryanRiverbasin..................................................................................22
Table13:ProductionandsaleoftheindustrialproductsofAkhuryanRiverbasin,bytypesofeconomicactivity.....22
Table14:StructureoftheindustrialproductofMetsamorRiverbasinbybranchesofindustry,%...........................23
Table15:ProductionandsaleoftheindustrialproductsofMetsamorRiverbasin,bytypesofeconomicactivity....23
Table16:RelativelylargeenterprisesinMetsamorRiverbasin.................................................................................24
Table17:RoadsofAkhuryanBMAbytheirsiginificance............................................................................................26
Table18:PassengerandcargotransportationsinAkhuryanBMAin2011................................................................28
Table19:Impactofurbanwastewateraccordingtopopulationnumber..................................................................29
Table20:PressurefromsewagewaterofthetownsofAkhuryanRiverbasin...........................................................30
Table21:ProjectedvaluesinwaterqualityindicatorsofAkhuryanRiverbasinandactualmonitoringdata.............30
Table22:PressurefromsewagewaterofthetownsofMetsamorRiverbasin..........................................................31
Table23:ProjectedincrementsinwaterqualityindicatorsofMetsamorRiverbasinandactualmonitoringdata....31
Table24:RelativelylargeenterprisesofMetsamorRiverbasin.................................................................................32
Table25:AnnualpollutionloadsoffromlivestockproductionintheAkhuryanRiverbasin,ton/year......................37
Table26:AnnualpollutionloadsoffromlivestockproductionintheMetsamorRiverbasin,ton/year.....................38
Table27:DataonpasturesandcattleintheAkhuryanandMetsamorRiverbasins,asof2013................................38
Table28:MaincharacteristicsofreservoirsintheAkhuryanRiverbasin...................................................................39
Table29:MaincharacteristicsofthepumpingstationsoftheAkhuryanRiverbasin................................................39
Table30:CharacteristicsofthecanalsofAkhuryanRiverbasin.................................................................................40
Table31:MaincharacteristicsofthepumpingstationsoftheMetsamorRiverbasin...............................................41
Table32:CharacteristicsofthecanalsintheMetsamorRiverbasin..........................................................................41
Table33:MaincharacteristicsoftheSmallHPPsintheAkhuryanRiverbasin...........................................................42
Table34:Minimumaveragemonthlyflowchanges,duetoanthropogenicactivity(millionm3)...............................47
Table35:MacrozoobenthosstatusclassificationbasedontheresultsofJointFieldSurvey(June2013)..................47
Table36:SummaryofthechemicalstatusassessmentinAkhuryanBMA................................................................50
Table37:Preliminarydelineationofthehydromorphologicalqualityclasses............................................................52
Table38:HydromorphologicalstatusclassificationbasedontheresultsofJointFieldSurvey(June2013)..............52
Table39:SummaryofsignificantanthropogenicpressuresonwaterresourcesoftheAkhuryanRiverbasin...........54
Table40:SummaryofsignificantanthropogenicpressuresonwaterresourcesoftheMetsamorRiverbasin..........55
TableofFigures

Figure1:GrossagriculturalproductsintheAkhuryanRiverbasininbillionAMD........................................................7
Figure2:GrossagriculturalproductintheMetsamorRiverbasininbillionAMD........................................................8
Figure3:SmallHydropowerPlantsinAkhuryanBMAasofJanuary,2014.................................................................11
Figure4:WaterabstractioninAkhuryanBMA(inthousandm3),asofJanuary,2014,accordingtowateruse
permits......................................................................................................................................................................12
Figure5:WaterabstractioninAkhuryanandMetsamorRiverbasins(inthousandm3),asofJanuary,2014,
accordingtowaterusepermits.................................................................................................................................13
Figure6:WaterabstractionpointsinAkhuryanBMA,asof01.01.2014,accordingtowaterusepermits.................14
Figure7:ServiceareaofdrinkingwatersupplycompaniesinAkhuryanBMA..........................................................15
Figure8:ServiceareaofWaterUserAssociationsinAkhuryanBMA.........................................................................17
Figure9:LocationofmainindustrialenterprisesinAkhuryanBMA...........................................................................21
Figure10:OpenburningofwasteinSasuniklandfill..............................................................................................25
Figure11:LocationofsolidwastelandfillsandmainfishfarmsinAkhuryanBMA...................................................26
Figure12:MaintransportnetworkofAkhuryanBMA...............................................................................................27
Figure13:AgriculturalCropsintheAkhuryanRiverbasin,hectares,asof2013........................................................35
Figure14:AgriculturalCropsintheMetsamorRiverbasin,hectares,asof2013.......................................................36
Figure15:LivestockintheAkhuryanRiverbasin,asof2013,thousandcapita.........................................................36
Figure16:LivestockintheMetsamorRiverbasin,asof2013,thousandcapita.........................................................37
Figure17:StretchoftheAkhuryanRiverwithmodifiedriverbed.............................................................................40
Figure18:SectionsofAkhuryanRiverwhereecologicalflowisnotmaintainedduetoHPPoperation.....................42
Figure19:CascadesmallHPPbeingconstructedonAkhuryanRiver......................................................................43
Figure20:FlowalterationtrendobservedatMetsamorRanchpargaugingstation,intheperiodof19472004......44
Figure21:Classificationofthesurfacewaterresourcesbybiologicalstatus.............................................................48
Figure22:Classificationofthesurfacewaterresourcesbychemicalstatus..............................................................51
Figure23:Classificationofthesurfacewaterresourcesbyhydromorphologicalstatus............................................53
Figure24:LocationsofthesamplingpointsproposedfortheseconfJointFieldSurvey............................................57
1.METHODOLOGY
Theneedforconductinganalysisofpressuresandimpactsforriverbasinplanningisformulatedin
Article 5 of the European Union (EU) Water Framework Directive (WFD). Following the Guidance
Document#3onAnalysisofPressuresandImpacts(ImpressDocument),theDriverPressureState
ImpactReponses(DPSIR)approachhasbeenusedforidentificationofpressuresandanalysisofthe
impacts in the Akhuryan and Metsamor River basins of the Akhuryan Basin Management Area
(BMA).
Asthefirststep,thefollowingdriversaredescribedfortheAkhuryanandMetsamorRiverbasins:
agriculture,fishfarming,hydropowergeneration,waterabstractionandservices,industry,tourism,
landfills, transport and future infrastructure development. Pressuresstemming from these drivers,
suchaschangeintheflowand/orchemistryofwaters,areanalyzedaccordingtothefollowingtypes
ofpressures:pointsourcepollution,diffusesourcepollutionandhydromorphologicalalterationsin
theAkhuryanandMetsamorRiverbasins.
Chemical,biologicalandhydromorphologicalstatusofthesurfacewaterresourcesoftheAkhuryan
and Metsamor River basins are assessed as the next step, and surface water resources classified
basedontheresultsoftheassessment.Assessmentofthechemicalstatuswasconductedbasedon
ecologicalnormsofwaterqualityintheAkhuryanandMetsamorRiverbasinsthatwasapprovedby
GovernmentResolution#75Nin2011.
The status of biological quality elements has been assessed using Rapid Biological Assessment
methodbasedonthedataonbenthicmacroinvertebratecommunities.
ThestatusofhydromorphologicalqualityelementshasbeenassessedbasedontheresultsofJoint
Field Survey (JFS) using the classification scheme that had been developed under the EU Trans
Boundary River Management Phase II for the Kura River basin Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan
Project,andtestedwithinEPIRBProjectinAkhuryanBMAduringthefirstJFS.
Basedontheassessmentresults,thesurfacewaterresourcesoftheAkhuryanandMetsamorRiver
basinsareclassifiedaccordingtochemical,biologicalandhydromorphologicalstatus.
At the final stage, the significant water resource management issues in the both river basins are
identified. This also includes major data gaps which have been identified in the process of
assessment.Thelocationsofsamplingpointsproposedforfuturefieldsurveystofillinthegapsin
termsofphysicalchemical,hydromorphologicalandbiologicalmonitoringarealsopresented.
For conducting risk assessment, data and information contained in the report on River Basin
AnalysisofAkhuryanWaterBasinManagementAreapreparedfortheEPRIBProjectwasupdated
and complement. Additional data was obtained from the Ministries of the Nature Protection,
includingtheWaterResourcesManagementAgencyandAkhuryanBasinManagementorganization,
AgricultureandTerritorialadministration,EmergencySituation,Shirak,AragatsotnandArmavirMarz
Administrations(Marzpetarans)ofArmenia,etc.
Thepressureimpactanalysiswilldirectlyfeedintotheidentificationofwaterbodiesatriskthatfail
theEUWFDenvironmentalobjectives.Basedonthefindingsoftheriskassessment,thedelineation
ofwaterbodieswillberevised.
2.DRIVERS
2.1. Agriculture
AgricultureisoneoftheleadingbranchesofeconomyintheAkhuryanBMA,includingAkhuryanand
MetsamorRiverbasins.
In2013theagriculturallandsinAkhuryanRiverbasincomprisedanareaof230,000hectares,55%
ofwhicharepastures,35%arablelands,5%grasslands,0.2%perennialsand4.8%areusedfor
miscellaneouspurposes.
Themainprofilesofagriculturalproductionintheriverbasinarecropsproduction(grains,including
wheatandbarley,potatoes,vegetables,includingcabbage,carrots,beetroot,melons,foddercrops,
suchasoatandalfalfa),aswellaslivestockproduction,includingcowsandsheep.Cropsproduction
isprevailingoverthelivestockproduction.MostofthefertilesoilsareintheShirakValley.Themain
crops are grains, which are cultivated on about 70% of the cultivated land, fodder crops and
potatoes(Table1).
Table1:CropgrossproductionintheAkhuryanRiverbasin
Crop
Cereals
Potatoes
Vegetables
Fruits
Fodder
Other
Cultivatedland,hectares
2011
2012
2013
36,403
39,717
42,348
3,667
4,148
4,219
1,523
1,486
1,666
443
440
445
12,051
11,951
12,600
17
16
31
Grossproduct(AMDmillion)
2011
2012
2013
12.2
14.8
16.9
12.7
12.1
12.6
3.8
3.0
4.5
0.6
0.6
0.7
2.6
2.6
3.6
13.0
16.6
15.0
Source:AnnualReportoftheShirakMarzpetaranonSocialEconomicSituationintheShirakMarzin2013,2014;
NationalStatisticalServiceoftheRepublicofArmenia,2014.
AgriculturallandsintheAkhuryanRiverbasinareservedbyShirak,Aragats,AygabatsandAjapnyak
Water Users Association (WUAs). The total service area of the WUAs is 28,600 ha. The irrigation
infrastructure consists of about 20 pump stations, network of 20 irrigation canals, including main,
secondary and tertiary canals, which provide water from rivers and reservoirs for irrigation of the
agriculturallandsoftheAkhuryanRiverbasin.AsofJanuary2014thepermittedannualwateruse
forirrigationpurposesintheriverbasincomprised1,664,527.5thousandm3,whichisabout77%of
thetotalpermittedwateruse.Duetopoorconditionoftheirrigationinfrastructure,waterlossesin
thenetworkcurrentlycompriseabout50%.
A cattle breeding has been a traditional branch of agriculture in the Akhuryan River basin.
Widespread pastures in the river basin create favorable conditions for development of cattle
breeding.Thisisprovenbyannualincreaseofbothlivestockcapitaandlivestockyield.
18,700beehivesexistedintheAkhuryanRiverbasinin2013.
About8085%ofthelivestockisfedbygreenfodder,whereasasystemofcombinedfodderneedsto
bedevelopedintheriverbasin,whichwillincreaselivestockproduction(Table2).
Table2:NumberoflivestockintheAkhuryanRiverbasin,thousandcapita
Cattle
Pigs
Sheepandgoats
2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013
2011 2012
2013
96.7
99.7
105.7 13.5
15.3
15.7
69.1
82.3
86.4
Poultry
2011 2012 2013
240.0 202.0 315.0
Source: Annual Report of the Shirak Marzpetaran on SocialEconomic Situation in the Shirak Marz in 2013, 2014;
NationalStatisticalServiceoftheRepublicofArmenia,2014.
In2013about6,200itemsofagriculturalmachineryandequipmentweredeployedintheAkhuryan
riverbasin,80%ofwhichareinoperablecondition.
ThegrossagriculturalproductintheAkhuryanRiverbasinamountedto124.3billionAMDin2013.
Figure1:GrossagriculturalproductsintheAkhuryanRiverbasininbillionAMD.(Datasource:NationalStatistical
ServiceofArmenia,2014;AnnualReportoftheShirakMarzpetaranonSocialEconomicSituationintheShirakMarzin
2013,2014)
In 2013 the agricultural lands in the Metsamor River basin comprised approximately 226,900
hectares,including47%ofpastures,24%arablelands,10.5%grasslands,5.6%perennialplants,
and12.9%formiscellaneoususe.
Table3:CropgrossproductionintheMetsamorRiverbasin
Crop
Cereals
Potatoes
Vegetables
Fruits
Grapes
Fodder
Cultivatedland,ha
2011
16,978
1,684
6,121
2,296
4,846
8,997
2012
17,266
1,832
6,208
2,298
5,017
9,181
Grossharvest,thousandton
2013
17,611
1,996
6,456
2,496
5,265
9,326
2011
38.7
51.1
252.7
97.9
68.7
171.1
2012
49.6
51.9
261.9
99.3
73.6
178.8
2013
56.4
65.2
265.6
112.4
79.1
181.3
Source:National Statistical Service of theRepublicof Armenia, 2014;AnalyticalInformation Center of theEconomic

Reforms,AchievementsofAragatsotnMarzoftheRepublicofArmeniain20072011,2012;andAchievementsof
ArmavirMarzoftheRepublicofArmeniain20072011,2012.
Production of vegetables in the green houses has been gradually increasing in the river basin,
particularlyintheArmavirregion.Varioustypesofvegetablesandstrawberryaregrownunderglass
andpolyethylenecoversonabout1,000hectaresoftheland,whichenablestoprovidethenational
populationwithfreshvegetablesalmostallovertheyear.
7
Arablelandswithcerealshavereducedoverlast10yearsintheagriculturalsectoroftheriverbasin,
particularly in lover reaches of the Metsamor River, and areas for vineyards and orchards have
expandedinstead.
AgriculturallandsintheMetsamorRiverbasinareservedbyAknalich,Masis,Khoy,Parpi,Amberd,
Shahumian, Armavir, SevjurAkhtamar, Merdzpanya, Araks, Mush, Karakert and Shenik WUAs. The
totalserviceareaoftheWUAsisabout41,225ha.Theirrigationinfrastructureconsistsofabout31
pumpstations,networkof23irrigationcanals,includingmain,secondaryandtertiarycanals,which
providewaterfromriversandreservoirsforirrigationoftheagriculturallandsoftheMetsamorRiver
basin.AsofJanuary2014thepermittedannualwateruseforirrigationpurposesintheriverbasin
comprised 120,099.5 thousand m3, which is about 47% of the total permitted water use. Due to
poorconditionoftheirrigationinfrastructure,waterlossesinthenetworkcurrentlycompriseabout
50%.
Approximately 18,000 ha of the irrigated lands of agricultural significance in the Metsamor River
basin are currently not cultivated, mainly due to a lack of irrigation water and absence of tertiary
irrigation networks, double salinization of lands, as well as low solvency of individual rural
communities,andhighratesofemigration.
GeographicalpositionandnaturalclimaticconditionsintheMetsamorRiverbasinarefavorablefor
cattlebreeding.Dataonlivestockproductionintheriverbasinispresentedbelow.
Table4:NumberoflivestockintheMetsamorRiverbasin
Cattle
Pigs
Sheepandgoats
Poultry
2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013
2011 2012
2013 2011 2012 2013
80.7
81.6
82.4
20.9
21.7
22.2 100.6 102.8 104.1 284.0 298.5 320.0
Source:National Statistical Service of theRepublicof Armenia, 2014;AnalyticalInformation Center of theEconomic
Reforms,AchievementsofAragatsotnMarzoftheRepublicofArmeniain20072011,2012;andAchievementsof
ArmavirMarzoftheRepublicofArmeniain20072011,2012.
In2013thegrossagriculturalproductintheMetsamorRiverbasinamountedtoAMD154.4billion.
Figure2:GrossagriculturalproductintheMetsamorRiverbasininbillionAMD.(Datasource:NationalStatistical
ServiceofArmenia,2014;AnnualReportoftheAragatsotnMarzpetaranonSocialEconomicSituationintheMarzin
2013,2014;AnnualReportoftheArmavirMarzpetaranonSocialEconomicSituationintheMarzin2013,2014)
2.2. Fish farming
Traditionally,fishbreedingintheAkhuryan RiverbasinhasbeentakingplaceintheLakeArpiand
Akhuryanreservoirs.AsofJanuary2014,therewere4fishfarmsintheAkhuryanRiverbasin,with
annual 15,273.3 thousand m3 permitted water use, and 14,398.4 permitted return flows. These
farms are smallscale and occupy 78 ha of land. These fish farms mostly abstract water from
groundwatersources,whichareofhighquality.
Fish farming does not play an essential role in the economy of the Akhuryan river basin, and
permittedwaterabstractionforthispurposeconstitutesonly0.7%ofthetotalwaterabstraction.
Duringthelast67yearsfishfarminghasincreasedsignificantlyinthelowerreachesofMetsamor
Riverbasin,particularlyintheArmavirMarz,contributingsignificantlytotheeconomyoftheriver
basin.AsofJanuary2014,therewereabout142fishfarmsregisteredintheMetsamorRiverbasin,
including 92 operational. The permitted water use by these farms via 176 groundwater wells
comprised 49,915.5 thousand m3 annually, which is about 19.5% of total water abstraction in the
riverbasin.Theannualpermittedreturnflowsfromthefishfarmscomprise46,286.9thousandm3.
These farms, with total surface of about 956 ha, occupy water lands, agricultural and community
lands, etc. of the river basin. Fish farms abstract water from groundwater aquifers of the Ararat
Valley of Armenia (covering Armavir and Ararat Marzes of Armenia) and return flows into surface
waters(MetsamorandAraksrivers).
Carp,silvercarp,catfish,kramulya(Varicorhinuscapoeta),trout,sturgeonarebeingproducedinthe
fishfarms.Grossfishproductionamountedtoabout2,500tonsin2013intheAkhuryanBMA,with
troutandsturgeonspeciescomprising6570%ofthegrossproduction.Partoftheproductionisused
forlocalconsumption,andtherestisimportedtoforeignmarkets,suchasRussia,Ukraine,Georgia,
US,Arabiccountries,etc.
2.3. Hydropower
Constructionofsmallcapacityhydropowerplants(HPPs)bothinAkhuryanBMAandinArmeniaasa
wholeisconsideredtobeaprincipalstepinrenewableenergydevelopment.
Currentlythereare8 small HPPsoperatinginAkhuryanriverbasin,withtotalinstalledcapacityof

17,240kWand4smallHPPsinMetsamorriverbasin,withtotalcapacityof9,940kW(Table5).
Table5:CharacteristicsofsmallHPPsoperatingintheAkhuryanBasinManagementArea
Nameof
thesmall
HPP
Gyumri
Akhuryan
5,280
6.4 ShirakCanal
Talin
Metsamor
5,140
5.6 TalinIrrigationCanal
N/A
N/A
Jradzor
Akhuryan
3,900
5.0 AkhuryanCanal
No
No
Paros
Akhuryan
2,380
9.2 AkhuryanRiver
No
Yes
Marmashen
Akhuryan
2,150
16.0 AkhuryanRiver
Yes
Yes
Armavir
Vardan
Metsamor
Metsamor
2,040
1,710
22.0 Armavirmaincanal
5.0 TalinIrrigationCanal,
9
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
River
Basin
Capacity
kW
Flow,
m3/sec
Watersource
Ecological
flow
maintained
No
Fishpasses
exist
No
Nameof
thesmall
HPP
River
Basin
Capacity
kW
Flow,
m3/sec
Watersource
Ecological
flow
maintained
Fishpasses
exist
2ndstage
Amasia
Akhuryan
1,600
AkhuryanRiver
No
Yes
Yeghnajur
Akhuryan
1,230
YeghnajurRiver
Yes
Yes
Vardanants
Metsamor
1,050
N/A
N/A
Artik1
Akhuryan
380
N/A
N/A
Mayisyan
Akhuryan
320
N/A
N/A
ShenikVanandchuteof
4.0 TalinIrrigationCanal,
2ndstage
MantashArtik
0.25
drinkingwaterpipeline
ZuigaghbyurGyumri
0.5
drinkingwaterpipeline
Source:PublicServicesRegulatoryCommission,2013;AkhuryanBasinManagementOrganization,WRMA,2014
TheGyumriHPPisthemostpowerfulsmallhydropowerplantinthebasin,withacapacityof5,280
andcalculatedflowof6.4m3/sec.TheArmavirHPPisthemostpowerfulsmallhydropowerplanton
Armavirmaincanal,withcapacityof2,040kWandcalculatedflowof22.0m3/sec.
Water use from hydropower plants of Akhuryan river basin to Marmashen and Paros HPPs is
carriedoutthroughderivationalpipes,andtherestareinstalledrightonthesourcedrinkingwater
pipelineandcanal.HydropowerplantsoftheMetsamorriverbasinareinstalledoncanals.
In general the HPPs of the Akhuryan BMA are of small capacities. However, they exert significant
pressure on water resources in terms of failure to maintain ecological flow in some sections of
AkhuryanRiver.
At present, there are 3 other small HPPs are being constructed in the Akhuryan BMA (Table 6).
Figure3belowpresentsthespatiallocalizationofthesmallHPPsinAkhuryanBMA.
Table6:CharacteristicsofsmallHPPsinconstructionintheAkhuryanBasinManagementAreas
Nameof
thesmallHPP
River
Basin
Capacity,
kW
Cascade
Akhuryan
4,270
Shenik
Metsamor
550
Baghramyan
Metsamor
440
Flow,
m3/sec
Watersource
9.54 AkhuryanRiver
TalinIrrigationCanal,
2ndstage
TalinIrrigationCanal
Ecological
flow
maintained
No
Fishpasses
exist
Yes
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Source:PublicServicesRegulatoryCommission,2013,AkhuryanBasinManagementOrganization,WRMA,2014
10
Figure 3: Small Hydropower Plants in Akhuryan BMA as of January, 2014 (Data source: Water Resources
ManagementAgencyoftheMinistryofNatureProtectionofArmenia,2014)
11
2.4. Water abstraction and services
Water use in Akhuryan BMA is carried out for drinkinghousehold, irrigation, industrial, hydropower
generation and fisheries. As of January 1, 2014, water abstraction in Akhuryan BMA amounts to
2,420,326.5 thousand m3, according to the water use permits. Surface water abstraction, which
amountedto2,223,564.9thousandm3,constitutedtheprevalentpartoftotalwaterabstraction,and
thegroundwaterusewas196,761.6thousandm3.Thebreakdownofthewaterusevolumesbywater
usepurposeispresentedinthechartbelow:
Figure4:WaterabstractioninAkhuryanBMA(inthousandm3),asofJanuary,2014,accordingtowaterusepermits
(datasource:WaterResourcesManagementAgencyoftheMinistryofNatureProtectionofArmenia,2014)
Currently 61 water abstraction points operate in Akhuryan River basin, 35 of which are from
groundwater and 26 from surface water resources. Predominantly the groundwater is used for
drinking/domestic purposes. As of January 2014, water abstraction inthe river basin amounted to
2,163,932.5thousandm3,2,098,125.4thousandm3ofwhichwassurface,and65,807.2thousandm3
groundwater.
A larger part of water abstraction is carried out for irrigation purposes 1,664,527.5 thousand m3
(76.9% of the total water abstraction), and the least part by industrial (271.6 thousand m3 or
approximately 0.01% of the total water abstraction) and fishfarming (15273.3 thousand m3 or
approximately 0.7% of the total water abstraction) sectors. The water abstraction for
drinking/householdpurposescomprises2.3%and20%forhydropowergeneration.
ThewaterdischargetoAkhuryanRiverbasinamountsto454,204.0thousandm3.Thiswatercomes
mainlyfromhydropowerplantsandfisheries.
Groundwater use is carried out through springs and wells. Springs are centralized in the northern
outskirtsofVerinAkhuryanconcave.Zuigaghbyur,AshotskandGhazanchispringsarecapturedand
they serve the supply of drinking water to Gyumri and its adjacentsettlements, with total flow of
1.7m3/sec. In this case, the water flow of Ashotsk River reduces proportionally (by 1.7 m3/sec). In
12
these concaves, particularly Ashotsk concave, water is also abstracted by the wells. Total water
abstractionfrom13wellsinAshotskconcavemakes350l/sec.Thiswater,togetherwithZuigaghbyur
waterpipeline,isusedtosupplydrinkingwatertoGyumricityanditsadjacentsettlements.Allthe
wells are fountaining. Essentially, by default the waters of groundwater aquifers have been
discharging into the rivers. Therefore, the actual water flow of Ashotsk River has decreased by
1.7+0.35=2.05m3/sec,ratherthanby1.7m3/sec.
There are also significant volumes of water used for drinking water supply in Gyumri concave.
Currently water is pumped from 15 wells. Water abstraction is carried out by individual
communities, without measuring water quantity. If in the mentioned water abstraction conditions
the groundwater table was in the range of 730 m depth, presently, in the absence of regular
observations,itisdifficulttopredicttheirdepth.
Currently 118 water abstraction points exist in Metsamor River basin, 103 of which are from
groundwater and 15 from surface water resources. The number of groundwater use permits
exceedsthenumberofsurfacewaterusebyapproximately5times.Thereasonisthatfishfarming
hasrecentlydevelopedinMetsamorRiverbasin,andgroundwaterextractedfromdeepaquifersof
AraratValleyismainlyusedforfisheryandirrigationpurposes.
As of January 2014, total water consumption in Metsamor River basin amounted to 256,393.9
thousandm3.Mostofthewaterisusedforirrigationpurposes,whichmakesalmost47%ofthetotal.
Water consumption for fishfarming constitutes around 20% of the total, for hydropower almost
10%,forindustrial12%,anddrinking/household11%.
Groundwater in Metsamor River basin is used for drinking, fishery and irrigation purposes. A
considerablepartofwaterabstractioniscarriedoutforfishfarming(morethan13m3/sec).Thereis
nocalculationconductedfortheactualquantitiesofwaterabstraction.Duetothelargevolumeof
water abstraction, the level of confined aquifers is intensively reducing (annually 0.150.35 m and
more).Asaresult,decreasesingroundwatertablehavedirectimpactonenvironmentofthewater
abstractionareas.
Figure4showsacomparativeanalysisofwateruseinAkhuryanandMetsamorRiverbasins.Figure5
demonstratesspatialdistributionofthewaterabstractionpointsinAkhuryanBMA.
Figure5:WaterabstractioninAkhuryanandMetsamorRiverbasins(inthousandm3),asofJanuary,2014,according
towaterusepermits(datasource:WaterResourcesManagementAgency,MNP,2014)
13
Figure6:WaterabstractionpointsinAkhuryanBMA,asof01.01.2014,accordingtowaterusepermits
(Datasource:WaterResourcesManagementAgency,MinistryofNatureProtectionofArmenia,2014)
14
2.4.1.Waterabstractionforcommunalpurposes
AsofJanuary2014,annually79.2 millionm3ofwaterwasusedforcommunalpurposesinAkhuryan
BMA,accordingtototallyissued47permits.Watersupplyforcommunalpurposesiscarriedoutby
Shirak Water Supply and Sewerage CJSC, Nor Akunk CJSC, Armenian Water Supply and
SewerageCJSC,aswellasbyselfservicecommunities(Figure7).
Figure7:ServiceareaofdrinkingwatersupplycompaniesinAkhuryanBMA(Datasource:GeoinfoLLC,2013)
15
AsofJanuary2014,annually50.6millionm3ofwaterwasusedforcommunalpurposesinAkhuryan
Riverbasin(amountsto2.3%ofthetotalwaterabstractionintheriverbasin)and28.6millionm3in
MetsamorRiverbasin(11.2%ofthetotalwaterabstractionintheriverbasin).
InAkhuryanRiverbasinthewatersupplyiscarriedoutbyArmenianWaterSupplyandSewerage
CJSC,ShirakWaterSupplyandSewerageCJSCandlocalselfgovernmentauthorities.Watersupply
of 37 communities in Gyumri city, Akhuryan, Ani, Amasia regions is carried out by Shirak Water
Supply and Sewerage CJSC from Ghazanchi, Zuigaghbyur, Krasar, Krunk Spring and Vard
Baghwatersprings,totalproductioncapacityofwhichmakes1,482l/secbygravitymethod.Water
supplyofArtikandAshotskcommunitiesiscarriedoutbyArmenianWaterSupplyandSewerage
CJSCfromMantashgravitysystemandAshotskwatersprings.
Water supply is carried out by water transmission pipelines, extending for 229.2 km, which are
mainlyconstructedincomplexlandscapeconditionsandpassthroughhardrocklayersandmarshy
grounds,aswellasbymainwaterpipelines,whichhaveatotallengthof250.8km.ShirakWater
SupplyandSewerageCJSCoperates10dailyregulatoryreservoirs(DRR)and5chlorinationplants.
The company provides service to internal distribution networks of communities, which have an
approximatelengthof660700km.ArmenianWaterSupplyandSewerageCJSCoperatesinternal
distribution networks of Artik and Ashotsk communities, approximate length of which makes 150
km.
Mainly 3 urban communities (Gyumri, Artik and Maralik) from river basin communities receive
drinking water from centralized water supply systems, where water is decontaminated under the
defined procedure. Water supply and sewerage systems in other settlements, rural areas in
particular, are in very poor and wornout condition, which creates serious problems for delivering
appropriatequalityofwatertothepopulation.
InMetsamorRiverbasinthewatersupplyiscarriedoutbyArmenianWaterSupplyandSewerage
CJSC, Nor Akunk CJSC and local selfgovernment authorities. These organizations supply water
from Chlkanner and Aragats springs, and water springs of Taronik and ShorShor pumping station,
mainlywithtotalcapacityof1,235l/sec.
Three cities and over 50 communities in the river basin receive drinking water from centralized
watersupplysystems,wherewateristreated.Intheremainingsettlementsthewatersupplyisthe
responsibilityofthelocalgovernmentauthorities.
Themajorityofhouseholdsinsomeruralcommunitiesoftheriverbasinusecommonfaucets.Water
forArgina,Shenik,Karakert,MiasnikyanandKoghbavancommunitiesissuppliedbytankers.Water
abstracted from deep wells of Arevadasht and Hushakert communities is used for irrigation, and
drinkingwaterisreceivedfromwellsofSardarapatvillage.
2.4.2.Waterabstractionforirrigation
Most of the water in Akhuryan BMA is used for irrigation. As of January 2014, annual water
abstractionforirrigationpurposeswas1,664,527.5thousandm3inAkhuryanRiverbasin,whichwas
amounted to 77% of the total water abstraction, and 120,099.5 thousand m3 in Metsamor River
basin(about47%ofthetotalwaterabstraction).
16
In Akhuryan River basin the irrigation water is supplied by the by Aygabats, Shir, Ajapnyak and
AragatsWaterUserAssociations(WUA),whileinMetsamorRiverbasinbyAknalich,Masis,Khoy,
Parpi,Amberd,Shahumian,Armavir,SevjurAkhtamar,Merdzapnia,Araks,Mush,Talin,Karakertand
ShenikWUAs(refertoFigure8below).
Figure8:ServiceareaofWaterUserAssociationsinAkhuryanBMA(Datasource:StateWaterCadastre,2013)
In Akhuryan river basin the irrigation is carried out through the following 19 big and small canals,
totalirrigatedareaofwhichmakesabout28,600hectares.
Table7:CharacteristicsofthecanalsofAkhuryanRiverbasin
Nameofthecanal
Shirakcanal
Voskehaskpump,canal
AkhurikYerazgavorscanal
Sourceoffeeding
Akhuryanriver
Akhuryanriver
Pumpingstation
17
Length,
km
21.3
6.1
48
Transmissibility,
m3/sec
6.6
0.6
08
Irrigation
area,ha
9,817
590
270
Nameofthecanal
Sourceoffeeding
Length,
km
Transmissibility,
m3/sec
Irrigation
area,ha
Aygebatscanal
Karnutreservoir
21.7
3.6
2,668
Akhuryancanal
Canal
26.6
0.11.12
2,826
Karangiriverwingcanal
Karanguriver
0.8
0.3
123
Bayandurpumpingstationcanal
Akhuryanriver
2.3
0.2
91
Akhuryanrightbankcanal
Akhuryanriver
30.18
5
4,230
Maralikwaterpipeline
Sarnaghbyurreservoir
3.5
0.9
775
JrapAghinwaterpipeline
Akhuryanreservoir
2.52
0.4
449
IrapiHaykadzor
Akhuryanreservoir
1.62
0.5
315
Kapsreservoirsystem
Kapsreservoir
760
Akhuryanriver
4.4
0.7
755
Tavshutirrigationcanal
Tavshutreservoir
1.5
5.1
331
Khothundzimechanicalirrigation
Akhuryanriver
0.8
0.6
1,298
Karnutwatersupply/irrigationsystem Karnutreservoir
15.5
0.8
445
LeftbankcanaloftheKaranguRiver
Karanguriver
2.9
1.5
1,144
RightbankcanaloftheKaranguRiver Karanguriver
17.4
2
1,193
Horomcanal
Karnutreservoir
9.2
0.8
631
Source:StateCommitteeonWaterSystemsoftheMinistryofTerritorialAdministrationoftheRepublicofArmenia,2014
ThelargestcanalsintheriverbasinincludeShirakCanal,withanirrigationareaof9,817hectares,
Akhuryan River right bank canal 4,230 hectares, Aygabats Canal 2,668 hectares, and Akhuryan
Canal2,826hectares.
Thereare28pumpingstationsinAkhuryanRiverbasin,eventhoughnotallofthemareoperational.
ThelargestonesareArtik,PokrSepasar,AnitwolevelandTavshutpumpingstations.Totalirrigation
areaofthepumpingstationsisapproximately8,500hectares(Table11).
Table8:CharacteristicsofthepumpingstationsoftheAkhuryanRiverbasin
Nameofthepumpingstation
Pressure,
m
Sourceoffeeding
Productivity,
3
m /sec
Irrigationarea,
hectares
Artik
Karnutreservoir
100
2
1,743
Voskehask
Akhuryanriver
210
0.55
590
Akhuryan
Akhuryanriver
90
0.36
67
Akhurikonelevelandtwolevel Akhuryanriver
50
0.66
185
Akhurikthreelevel
Akhuryanriver
65
0.38
323
Akhurikfourlevel
Akhuryanriver
50
0.16
80
Akhurikfivelevel
Akhuryanriver
50
0.08
85
Beniaminonelevel
Karnutreservoir
36
0.13
3
Beniamintwolevel
Karnutreservoir
120
0.59
396
Bayanduronelevel
Akhuryanriver
90
0.57
91
Bayandurtwolevel
Akhuryanriver
75
0.23
100
Aygabatsonelevel
Karnutreservoir
120
0.32
257
Aygabatstwolevel
Karnutreservoir
90
0.54
250
Mayisian
Shirakcanal
120
0.26
160
Gharibjanian
Akhuryanriver
120
0.64
247
Sarnaghbyur
Sarnaghbyurreservoir
210
0.32
130
Kharkov
Akhuryanriver
210
0.16
Torosvillage
Akhuryanreservoir
210
0.44
755
PokrSepasar
Fromsprings
240
0.73
1,238
Tavshut
Tavshutreservoir
175
0.78
331
Horom
Horomreservoir
264
0.02
Hayreniats
Karnutreservoir
70
0.30
197
18
InMetsamorRiverbasinIrrigationiscarriedoutthrough23largeandsmallcanalsintheriverbasin,
thetotalirrigationareaisapproximately41,225hectares(Table9).
Table9:CharacteristicsofthecanalsofMetsamorRiverbasin
Nameofthecanal
Sourceoffeeding
Length,
km
Transmissibility,
m3/sec
Irrigation
area,ha
Armavircanal
Zartonkpumpingstationcanal
Metsamorpumpingstationcanal
Talincanalonelevel
Talincanaltwolevel
Yervandashatcanal
ArmavirN1,N2pumpingstationcanal
UpperwaterwayofAknalichpumpingstation
LowerwaterwayofAknalichpumpingstation
Haykashencanal
Arasriver
43.65
3550
19,538
Metsamorriver
11.86
5
2,871
Metsamorriver
17.9
3
10.1
Talincanal
11.2
11
4,865
Talincanal
27
8
4,970
Akhuryanriver
10.7
2
384
Armavircanal
13
0.31.6
1,432
LakeMetsamor
10.4
2
999
LakeMetsamor
11.5
2
1,325
Metsamor left bank
10
6
1,227
canal
Jraratcanal
Metsamorriver
19.4
5
1,440
Metsamorleftbankcanal
Metsamorriver
16.8
11.2
226
Metsamorriver
0.6
0.35
390
SisAraksN1,N2pumpingstationcanal
Metsamorriver
0.9
0.25
130
Metsamorriver
0.6
0.35
350
Talincanal
Akhuryanriver
23.4
27.5
8
Karmrashencanal
Karmrashenriver
2.5
2.5
64
SariArucanal
Chilkansprings
13.9
2.5
277
Mastaracanal
Chilkansprings
28.0
1.5
165
KatnaghbyurAshnakcanal
Vosketassprings
26.0
3.5
159
Agarakcanal
Vosketassprings
12.9
1.5
70
Bazmaberdcanal
Vosketassprings
10.0
3.0
207
Hatsashencanal
MastaraJurriver
3.5
2.5
118
Armavir Canal is the largest canal in Metsamor River basin, which amounts to 50 m3/sec., and
irrigationareaaccountsforalmosthalfofthetotalirrigationarea19,538hectares.Thenextlarge
canalsincludeTalin1stCanal4,865hectares,Talin2ndCanal4,970hectares,AknalichCanal1,325
hectares,HaykashenCanal1,220hectares,andJraratCanal1440hectares.
The total area of irrigation through the pumping stations of Metsamor River basin is approximately
34,680hectares.Ranchpar,Arevshat,ZartonkandAknalicharethelargestpumpingstationsintheriver
basin(Table10).
Table10:CharacteristicsofthepumpingstationsofMetsamorRiverbasin
Pressure,
Sourceoffeeding
m
Bazmaberd
600
Dashtadem
Akhuryanreservoir
310
Zartonk
Metsamorriver
27
Metsamor
52
Hoktemberian
Arasriver
52
Hushakert
Armavircanal
90
Mayisian
Metsamorpumping
40
Armavir
Armavircanal
14
Araks1
40
Araks2
65
Hatsik
20
Vardanashen
Fromthelakes
36
NorKesaria1
Armavircanal
65
19
Productivity,
m3/sec
0.16
1.53
5.05
3.04
1.66
0.58
0.56
0.7
0.17
0.7
0.08
0.28
0.7
Irrigation
area,ha
130
852
2,875
350
914
163
300
100
104
25
60
70
150
Pressure,
Productivity,
Irrigation
m
m3/sec
area,ha
NorKesaria2
28
0.22
76
Arevik
Drainagewaters
40
0.84
Drainage
Artashar
Armavircanal
13.5
0.66
Drainage
Hushakert
40
1.12
737
Talin1
Talincanal
100
2.2
859
Yervandashat
Arasriver
55
0.08
20
Bagaran
Bagarancanal
55
0.02
15
Hushakert1
Armavircanal
30
0.16
40
Aknalich
LakeMetsamor
65
4.55
2,210
Arevshat1st
LakeMetsamor
80
12.25
3,637
Arevshat2nd
Pumping
95
3.3
9,259
Araks1
Metsamorriver
14
1.05
70
Araks2
Metsamorriver
14
0.7
60
Ranchpar1st
Catchmentdrainagewaters
80
1.75
9,419
Metsamor
Metsamorriver
21
0.55
232
Lernamerdz
Deepwells
85
0.04
75
Aknalich2
LakeMetsamor
30
0.08
80
Aknalich3
LakeMetsamor
21
1.35
Offset
Sourceoffeeding
2.4.3.Industrialwaterabstraction
WaterabstractionforindustrialpurposesinAkhuryanandMetsamorriverbasinsismainlycarried
outinthefieldsoffoodindustry,lightindustryandminingindustry.AsofJanuary2014,theannual
wateruseforindustrialpurposesamountsto271.6thousandm3 inAkhuryanRiverbasin,whichis
0.7%ofthetotalwaterabstractionand32,768.8thousandm3inMetsamorRiverbasin(12.8%ofthe
totalwaterwithdrawal).
2.4.4.Waterabstractionforhydropowergeneration
As of January 2014, the annual water abstraction for hydropower generation purpose amounts to
433,275.2 thousand m3 in Akhuryan River basin, which accounts for 20% of the total water
abstraction and to 24,970 thousand m3 in Metsamor River basin (about 10% of the total water
abstraction).Currentlythereare8smallHPPsoperatinginAkhuryanriverbasin,withtotalinstalled
capacityof17,240kWand4smallHPPsinMetsamorriverbasin,withtotalcapacityof9,940kW
2.4.5.Waterabstractionforfishfarming
Asof January2014,theannual water useforfisherypurposesinAkhuryanBMAexceeds65,188.8

thousandm3,outofwhich15,273.3thousandm3 inAkhuryanRiverbasinand49,915.5thousandm3
inMetsamorRiverbasin.
Vast majority of over hundred fisheries withdraw water from groundwater basin of Ararat Valley.
Large quantity of return waters used from groundwater reserves of Ararat Valley flow into the
MetsamorandArasRiversbysurfaceflowandthenleavethecountry.
20
2.4.6.Communalwastewater
In Akhuryan BMA sewage and communal wastewaters from the settlements are directly released
intotheenvironment,sincetherearenonoperationaltreatmentplants,andsewageandindustrial
waterpipelinenetworksareobsolete:7080%areoutoforder.
2.5. Industry
FigurebelowshowsthemainindustrialenterprisesoftheAkhuryanBMA.
Figure9:LocationofmainindustrialenterprisesinAkhuryanBMA(Datasource:StateWaterCadastre,2014)
21
Currentlythereareapproximately110actingindustrialenterprisesinAkhuryanRiverbasin,90%of
whicharemediumandsmallcompanies.Asof2013,76oftheeconomicoperatorsissuingproduct
are companies belonging to the branch of manufacturing industry. Manufacturing industry is the
mainbranchofindustry,88%ofwhichgoestofoodindustry.
Table11:StructureoftheindustrialproductofAkhuryanRiverbasinbybranchesofindustry,%
Branchesofindustry
Volumeofproduct,%
Power,gas,steamandgoodqualityairsupply
10.7
Miningindustryandoperationofopenmines
0.3
Processingindustry
88.4
Watersupply,sewerage,wastemanagementandprocessing
0.6
Source:NationalStatisticalServiceoftheRepublicofArmenia,2013
About 86% of industrial enterprises in Akhuryan River basin are centralized in Gyumri, majority of
whicharefoodproductionandlightindustry.Relativelylargeenterprisesintheriverbasininclude
Lenteks, Igit, Shirak beer, Artik Steklomash, Tufablokneri Gortsaran, Maralik Nayteks,
ArtikArtikTuffandothercompanies.Extractionofmineralsintheriverbasinismainlycentralized
in Artik and Pemzashen, where tuff and pumice are extracted. Operation of the sugar factory was
launchedinAkhuryanregion,withadailycapacityof500tons.
Table12:RelativelylargeenterprisesinAkhuryanRiverbasin
Nameoftheenterprise
Region
Fieldofactivity
Analitsark1OJSC
Akhuryan
Electrical,electronicandopticalequipment
ArshaluisOJSC
Akhuryan
Textileindustry(hosiery)
ArmenKarpetGyumriBranch
Akhuryan
Textileindustry(carpets)
GyumriMaltBeerShirakCJSC
Akhuryan
Foodanddrinkproduction
LenteksCJSC
Akhuryan
Textileindustry
SteklomashOJSC
Artik
Productionofmachineryandequipment
ArtikTuffCJSC
Artik
Extractionofminerals
VardatuffLLC
Artik
ShinanyutOJSC
Akhuryan
AnipemzaOJSC
Ani
Productionofothernonmetallicmineralresources
AshotskiPanragortsaranOJSC
Ashotsk
Foodproduction
AmasiayiPanragortsaranOJSC
Amasia
Foodproduction
ConstructionplaysanessentialroleintheindustryofAkhuryanRiverbasin.Duringthelastfiveyears
30billionArmeniandrams werespent intheconstructionsector.Thekey expenseswereincurred
forhousingconstructioninGyumriandothersettlements.
Table13:ProductionandsaleoftheindustrialproductsofAkhuryanRiverbasin,bytypesofeconomicactivity
Economicindicators
Volumeoftheproducedproduct
Volumeofthesold
(expressedincurrentprices),
product,
millionAMD
millionAMD
Volumeoftheindustrialproduct,including:
42,750
42,580
4,932
4,696
Miningindustryandoperationofopenpits
124.3
120.5
Manufacturingindustry
40,406
38,575
Watersupply,sewerage,wastemanagementand
287.5
281.3
processing
Source:NationalStatisticalServiceoftheRepublicofArmenia,2012;AnalyticalInformationCenteroftheEconomic
Reforms,AchievementsofShirakMarzoftheRepublicofArmeniain20072011,2012
The return flows from the light industry are discharged into sewage system of Gyumri. However,
there is no data available on location of discharging the return flows from the newly operational
22
Akhuryan sugar factory. Considering the dissemination of ground waters in the entire Gyumri
concave and high filtration rate of waterbearing rocks (up to 24 m/day and more), the industrial
flows of the mentioned factory, without primary treatment, may become a potential source of
pollutionforgroundwaterandsoils.
Industry is one of the most important sectors of the economy in the Metsamor River basin. It is
currentlyspecializedinproductionofenergy,jewelry,productionoffood,refreshingbeverageand
alcoholic drinks, as well as operation of deposits of nonmetallic mineral resources (tuff, andesite
basalt,perlitesandandscoriaquarries).
Manufacturingindustry,thevolumeofwhichisincreasingyearbyyear,hasasignificantroleinthe
riverbasinindustry;currentlyitconstitutes84%ofthetotalindustry.
Table14:StructureoftheindustrialproductofMetsamorRiverbasinbybranchesofindustry,%
Branchesofindustry
Volumeofproduct,%
12
Miningindustryandoperationofopenmines
3
84
Watersupply,sewerage,wastemanagementandprocessing
1
Manufacturingindustryhasincreasedattheexpenseoffoodstuff,includingproductionofdrinksand
processing of nonmetallic mineral resources. Currently there are businesses manufacturing small
andmediumagriculturalproductsintheriverbasin,andthelargestofthemareArmavirMapand
Sardarapatcompanies.
There are plenty of reserves of construction materials in the river basin. Minerals are mainly
presentedbytuffs,andesitesbasalt,perlitesandsandscoria.Minesintheriverbasinareoperated
by 93 organizations, 50 of which are currently operational. Only in 420 hectares of lands in 17
communitiesofArmavirregionthereare21landusersextractingmineralsfromdeposits.
Table15:ProductionandsaleoftheindustrialproductsofMetsamorRiverbasin,bytypesofeconomicactivity
Economicindicators
Volumeoftheproducedproduct
Volumeofthesold
(expressedincurrentprices),million
product,
AMD
millionAMD
Volumeoftheindustrialproduct,including:
39,015
40,333
Power,gas,steamandgoodqualityair
4,682
4,911
supply
Miningindustryandoperationofopen
1,125
1,558
mines
32,773
33,467
Watersupply,sewerage,waste
435
397
managementandprocessing
Source:NationalStatistical ServiceoftheRepublicofArmenia,2012;RepublicofArmeniaAragatsotnMarzpetaran,
SocioEconomic Development Plan of the Republic of Armenia Aragatsotn Marz for 20112014, 2011; Republic of
ArmeniaArmavirMarzpetaran,SocioEconomicDevelopmentPlanoftheRepublicofArmeniaArmavirMarzfor2011
2014,2011
Armavir Machinetool Construction Factory produces gold pieces (up to 9 kg each), through its
unique ultrahigh precision pressure oven. It also produces iron balls for Armenian Copper
Program,AkhtalaOreMiningPlant,DrmbonGoldFactoryandothercompanies.
23
Table16:RelativelylargeenterprisesinMetsamorRiverbasin
Nameoftheenterprise
Region
ArmavirMAPCJSC
Armavir
LevonLLC
Armavir
BiokatPlusLLC
Talin
ArmavirFarmerCJSC
Armavir
ArmeniaVineCJSC
Talin
GoldenGrapeArmasOJSC
Armavir
ArmavirMachineToolConstructionFactory
Armavir
SardarapatCJSC
Baghramyan
ArmavirBranchof
Armavir
YerevanBrandyFactoryCJSC
Fieldofactivity
Canandfoodproduction
Foodstuffanddairyproduction
Fishery
Productionofdrinks
Processingofagriculturalproducts
Machineryparts
Productionofdrinks
TheMetsamorNuclearPowerPlant,thecapacityofwhichis430MW,islocatedontheterritoryof
the river basin. The nuclear power plant abstracts water from the Metsamor River to cool its
generatorsabout2m3/sec.TheMetsamorNuclearPowerPlant,whichissituated4kmnorthfrom
the Metsamor River source. This may have the greatest possible impact on the environment.
ConsideringthatthetermofoperationofMetsamorNPPblockhasexpired,fromenvironmentaland
safety perspective, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and EU countries recommend
suspendingactivitiesoftheoldblockandconstructinganewone.
Duetoinabilitytoattractsufficientfinancialresources,theconstructionofthenewnuclearenergy
blockwithinstalledcapacityof1060MWwaspostponeduntil2026.
2.6 Tourism
TourismisinsufficientlydevelopedinAkhuryanBMA.AkhuryanRiverbasinisrichinmineralwater,
picturesque sites of mountainous rivers and small lakes, as well as numerous historical and
architecturalmonumentsandobelisks,includingMarmashenmedievalmonastery,Harichmonastery
complex,whichhavegreatrecreationandtourismdevelopmentpotential.However,atpresentthis
potentialisnotadequatelyused.
MetsamorRiverbasinisauniquemuseum,wherehistoricalmonumentscharacteristictoalmostall
periods of the Armenian history, or their testimonies are preserved. Urartian castles (Hnaberd,
Tsaghkahovit),andShenik(57thcentury),Mastara(6thcentury),Garnahovit(67thcentury)churches
are well preserved. Metsamor archaeological museum, Armenia state ethnographic museum in
Sardarapat, the biggest groundwater flow in Armenia, Ayghrlich, old pagan center Bagaran,
Sardarapatmemorialarealsothere.ThereareruinsofcastlesandspiritualmonumentsinTalin.
On the left side of YerevanArmavir highway, between Aknalich and Taronik villages, Metsamor
fortressislocated.ThereareruinsofprimevalfortressesandmausoleumsinthevicinityofAknalich,
whichshowthatthisterritoryanditsadjacentsettlementshavebeenpopulatedsinceancienttimes.
Providedthereisnecessarycareandinvestments,thelakemaybecomeanimportanttouristicsite.
Fromallofthehistorical,culturalandnaturalvaluesmentionedabove,touristictrafficisobserved
only towards the Sardarapat memorial. Considering the lack of adequate road networks, hotels,
resortsandservicesintheAkhuryan BMA,tourismhasnot developedyet.That weaklydeveloped
tourismsectordoesnotcausesignificantpressureonwaterresourcesoftheBMA.
24
2.7. Solid waste landfills
Issues related to waste management in Akhuryan BMA are a priority and urgent, due to lack of
sanitary municipal waste landfills, compliant with the requirements of urban development, lack of
separate collection of industrial and municipal wastes, as well as lack of actions aimed at waste
prevention, collection, transportation, storage, processing, recycling, reclamation, removal,
decontaminationanddisposal.
Gyumri,Artik,MaralikandAkhurikmunicipallandfillsinAkhuryanRiverbasinareinpoorcondition.
ThelandfillofGyumriislocatedintheNorthwesternpartofthecity,AkhuryanRivervalley,which
has approximately 40 hectares of territory and lacks a sanitary protection zone of 1,000 m.
Registration of accumulation of industrial and municipal wastes is not carried out. Particularly
hazardouswastesarenotseparatedandtheyaredumpedintothegenerallandfill.Therearealso
considerableconstructionwasteandmunicipalsolidwasteaccumulationsinvarioussectionsofthe
citygorges,watercourses,etc.,whichsignificantlyimpacttheecologicalstatusofthecity.During
rainfalls and snowmelts, waste accumulated in the city area is washed with water, and the latter
resultsininfiltrationofhazardouschemicalcompositionsintogroundwaterbasins.
InMetsamorRiverbasin,aswell,industrialandconstructionwastesarepracticallyremovedtourban
andrurallandfills,togetherwithsolidmunicipalwastes.Wasteremovalintheriverbasinisnotcarried
outincompliancewiththeRALawOnWastes(adoptedin2004)andotherregulatorydocuments,
which raises probability of negative impact from solid waste accumulations and landfills on human
health and natural environment, particularly on land and, through infiltration, on water. Currently
garbageandwasteremovalisnotfullycarriedoutintheriverbasin.
Currently,afisheryisoperatingontheterritoryoftheformerwarehouseoftoxicchemicalsinJrarat
community.However,therearehundredsofkilogramsoftoxicchemicalsintwopreservedbuildings
ofthewarehouse.Apartofthesechemicalsisinsacks,someinbarrels,andtherestisscatteredall
overtheterritoryofthewarehouse.Sacksarewornout,andtoxicchemicalsspreadouteasilyfrom
destroyedbuildingstothefisheriesandtheenvironment,bywindandrainwater.In2011,aCzech
companynamedArnikatooksamplesthereanddiscoveredthatDDTcontentexceeded50percent
insomesacks.Inoneoftheexaminedsacks1kgoftoxicchemicalscontained647gDDT.Sacksalso
containedDDTdissolvingsubstances,suchasmetabolites,DDTandothersubstances,whichallhave
majortoxicproperties.Inthesurroundingsofthewarehouse1kgofsoilcontained280mgDDT.
Anareaof45thousandm2adjacenttoSasunikcommunityhasturnedintoalandfill,whichhasput
thecommunityintopoorecologicalconditions.
Figure10:OpenburningofwasteinSasuniklandfill(Photoby:EPIRBproject,2012)
25
Figure11:LocationofsolidwastelandfillsandmainfishfarmsinAkhuryanBMA(Datasource:GeoinfoLLC,2013)
2.8. Transport
ThetotallengthofroadsinAkhuryanBMAis1,620km(seethetableandmapbelowfordetails).
Table17:RoadsofAkhuryanBMAbytheirsignificance
Area
AkhuryanRiverbasin
MetsamorRiverbasin
TotalinAkhuryanBMA
Totalroads,
km
830
790
1,620
Interstateroads,
km
114
260
374
26
Nationalroads,
km
433
310
743
Community
roads,km
283
220
503
Figure12:MaintransportnetworkofAkhuryanBMA(Datasource:GeoinfoLLC,2013)
CargoandpassengertransportationinAkhuryanRiverbasiniscarriedoutbyroads,railwaysandair.
ShirakairportinGyumriisoperatingintheriverbasin,whichprovidesflightconnectionwithCIS
countriesandiscapableofreceivinganytypeofairtransport.
However, the main passenger and cargo transportation is carried out by roads. The interstate
M1YerevanGyumriBavraroadpassesthroughtheterritoryoftheriverbasin.
27

During the last years the community roads in the river basin were renovated. However, many
intercommunityroadsarestillinapoorcondition.
PassengerandcargotransportationinMetsamorRiverbasinismainlycarriedoutbyroadtransport.
M3 road of state significance (border of TurkeyMargaraArmavirVanadzorTashirstate border of
Georgia)andM5roadofinterstatesignificance(YerevanArmavir)passthroughtheterritoryofthe
riverbasin.
Roadsofinterstatesignificanceintheriverbasinarecurrentlyinarelativelysatisfactorycondition.A
considerablepartofroadsoflocalsignificancein the riverbasinhasnot been renovatedfor ages,
duetolackoffinancialresources.
Table18:PassengerandcargotransportationsinAkhuryanBMAin2011
Cargotransported,
Cargocirculation,
Area
thousandtons
milliont/km
445
24
AkhuryanRiverbasin
390
35
MetsamorRiverbasin
TotalinAkhuryanBMA
835
59
Traffic
470000
510000
Passengercirculation,
millionpassenger/km
76
89
980000
165
2.9. Future infrastructure development

TwonewreservoirsareplannedtobeconstructedinAkhuryanBMA.
SelavMastara reservoir will be located in the territory of Myasnikyan community of Armavir
province, on SelavMastara River. The reservoir will have 10.2 million m3 overall storage volume
(plannedheightofthedamis30m).ItwillcollectthefreeflowofSelavMastaraRiverinthesection
betweenAkhuryanReservoirandtheheadstructureoftheTalinirrigationsystem.Theconstruction
ofthereservoirwillenabletoirrigate4384haofagriculturallandsoftheregion.Aspotentialfunder,
Kuwait Foundation of Arabic Economic Development is planning to have appraisal mission. The
estimatedcostforconstructionofthereservoiris27mlnUSD.
Another project is related to rehabilitation of the partially constructed Kaps reservoir. With the
funding of the German KfW Bank, the selected consultant in 2013 started the feasibility study for
rehabilitationofKapsReservoirandconstructionofGravityIrrigationSystem.Intheinitialphaseitis
anticipated to rehabilitate the dam at a low level, providing about 6 million m3 capacity and the
gravitysupplyof2,200haofirrigationcurrentlysuppliedbypumpsornonirrigated.Theprojected
volumeofthereservoirafterrehabilitationis90mlnm3.Theestimatedcostforactivityis75.4mln
USD.
28
3.TYPESOFPRESSURES
3.1. Point source pollution

3.1.1.Communalwastewaterdischarge,includingthewastewaterpits
Thissectionprovidesassessmentofimpactofcommunalwastewatersinthebasinonthequalityof
waterresources.Herethesimplifiedmodelofpointsourcepollutionhasbeenapplied.Thiswasalso
usedforassessmentofimpactofcommunalwastewatersonthequalityofwaterresourcesofthe
Debed River (Monitoring program proposal for pilot Debed River basin, in compliance with the
principles of the Water Framework Directive, 2011) and the Aghstev River (Monitoring program
proposal for pilot Aghstev River basin, in compliance with the principles of the Water Framework
Directive,2011).TheimpactofsewagewaterwasconsideredasapointpressureinAkhuryanBMA,
andtheassessmentoftheimpactwasconductedbasedonthenumberofpopulation,accordingto
the methodology described in the work of Novotny V., Water Quality, Diffuse Pollution and
Watershed Management, 2003. According to that study, a person daily produces the following
effectsonthewater(Table22).
Table19:Impactofurbanwastewateraccordingtopopulationnumber
BOD5
CODfullorCOD(Bichromate)
Suspendedparticles(SP)
Phosphorus
Nitrogentotal
Ammonium
5060g/resident*day
90g/resident*day
90g/resident*day
3g/resident*day
15.5gN/resident*day
10.3g/resident*day
Source:NovotnyV.,WaterQuality,DiffusePollutionandWatershedManagement,2003
According to these values, the pressure from population of cities was calculated, based on the
numberofpopulation.Subsequently,havingthevolumeofsewagewater,theconcentrations(mg/l)
oftheabovementionedcomponentsinsewagewaterwerecalculated.Havingtheinflowrateofthe
aforementioned components in sewage water, as well as the value of minimum river flow, it is
possibletocalculatetheexpectedconcentrationofeachcomponentintheriverwater,byusingthe
simplifiedmodel.Pollutantconcentration(C)inthelocationofthepointpressureinriverwaterwas
calculatedbyusingthefollowingformula:
C=(Q0C0+Q1C1)/(Q0+Q1),
whereQ0 istheriverdischargebeforethesourcepressurepoint,C0 isthepollutantconcentrationin
the same point of the river water, Q1 is the volume of wastewaters discharged in the location of
pressure,C1isthepollutantconcentrationinwastewaters.
Following the same logic, the concentration of pollutants penetrated into the river flow through
waterdischargewascalculated,whichwereviewedasaquantityofpointpressure:
C=Q1C1/(Q0+Q1).
Inordertoassessthepressureofcommunalwastewaterdischarge,anapproachtakingintoaccount
the number of population was used. Weather is a variable included to calculate the BOD5 value.
AccordingtotheWaterQualityGuidelinesMemorandum#1of1978,1mg/lofBOD5isconsideredas
amaximumpermissibleamountinsummerlowwaterconditionsandanyexceedancesisviewedasa
significant pressure. Based on the wellknown standard, according to which the BOD5 load
dischargedbywastewatersiscalculatedtobeN*60g/day,whereNisthenumberofpopulation,the
29
concentration (C) of this pollutant was calculated at the point of discharge in river water by the
followingformula:
C=(60*N*1000)/(24*60*60)mg/l.
Gyumri, Artik and Maralik towns are viewed as potential sources of significant pressures in
AkhuryanRiverbasin.Usingtheabovementionedmethod,theimpactofthesesourcesofpressure
wasassessed.Theresultsofthisassessmentaresummarizedinthetableprovidedbelow:
Table20:PressurefromsewagewaterofthetownsofAkhuryanRiverbasin
Settlement
Population
BOD5,mg/l
121,976
24,932
253,994
24.2
40.8
47.7
Gyumri
ArtikandMaralik
Total
Suspended
particles,mg/l
36.2
61.2
71.6
Phosphorus,
mg/l
1.2
2.0
2.4
Nitrogen,
mg/l
6.2
10.5
12.3
Source:CensusdataofOctober2011,NationalStatisticalSurvey,2012;GeoinfoLLC,2013
Takingintoaccountthevaluesofthemodel,theprojectedvaluesofBOD5,suspendedparticles,total
nitrogen and total phosphorus were calculated for Akhuryan River basin. These values were
comparedwiththeaveragedvaluesrecordedattheEIMCswaterqualitymonitoringposts(#34on
theAkhuryanRiverand#38ontheKarkachunRiver).Theresultsareprovidedinthetablebelow:
Table21:ProjectedvaluesinwaterqualityindicatorsofAkhuryanRiverbasinandactualmonitoringdata
BackgroundconcentrationsoftheAkhuryanRiver
CalculatedincreaseinGyumri
CalculatedincreaseinArtikandMaralik
CalculatedincreaseinAkhuryanRiverbasin
Modelcalculatedvalue(observationpost#34)
Actualmonitoringdata(observationpost#34)
Thedifferenceofmodelandactualconcentrations,%
Modelcalculatedvalue(observationpost#38)
Actualmonitoringdata(observationpost#38)
Thedifferenceofmodelandactualconcentrations,%
BOD5,
mg/l
3.0
23.2
40.8
47.7
44.1
3
93
38.8
2.7
93
Suspended
Phospho Nitrogen,
particles,mg/l rus,mg/l
mg/l
25
0.086
0.8
34.8
1.2
6.0
61.2
2.0
10.5
71.6
2.4
12.3
88.26
2.1
11.4
208.6
0.24
4.5
136
89
61
80.8
1.9
10
70
0.26
5
13
86
50
Source:GeoinfoLLC,2013
The results show that there is a significant difference between water quality monitoring data and
modelcalculateddata.Itisalsonoteworthytomentionthatassessmentofthedifferenceofmodel
valuesandactualmonitoringdataisalmostthesameinbothobservationpoints.Amongthereasons
for such discrepancy on should mention that the point nature of the pressure of communal
wastewatersanduseofthemodelweremostprobablyincompleteorlimited.Firstly,wastewaters
are not totally treated, and, secondly, there are great losses in sewage pipelines, which lead to
dispersion of wastewaters and reduction of the impact onriver waterquality. The process ofself
treatmentalsoneedstobetakenintoaccount,whichisapparentfromrelativelylowvaluesofactual
concentrationsofnitrogenandphosphorus.
However the data show that communal wastewater has significant pressure on the quality of
waterresourcesoftheAkhuryanRiverbasin.
30
Armavir, Metsamor and Talin towns are viewed as potential sources of significant pressures from
communalwastewaterinMetsamorRiverbasin.Therearesewagewatercollectorsinthesetowns,
which discharge the collected wastewater into open water bodies without any treatment. The
sewagepipelinesofArmavirandMetsamortownsareconnectedtothecommunalwastewatersbut
are discharged into the Metsamor River through the sewage pipeline, practically without any
treatment. Wastewaters from the Talin sewage collector are discharged into the SelavMastara
internal stream bed, thus discharging again into the upper section of the Metsamor River. The
assessmentoftheimpactofcommunalwastewatersoftheriverbasinonqualityofwaterresources
oftheMetsamorRiverhasbeenimplementedusingthesimplifiedmodelofpointsourcepollution,
describedabove(Table25).
Table22:PressurefromsewagewaterofthetownsofMetsamorRiverbasin
Settlement
Population
Armavir
Metsamor
Talin
Total
29,319
9,191
5,310
211,402
BOD5,
Phosphorus, Nitrogentotal, Ammonium
CODBichromat SP,mg/sec
mg/sec
mg/sec
mg/sec
mg/sec
23.61
35.42
35.42
0.57
6.10
4.05
7.29
10.94
10.94
0.18
1.88
1.25
3.96
5.94
5.94
0.10
1.02
0.68
174.31
261.46
261.46
4.22
45.03
29.92
Source:CensusdataofOctober2011,NationalStatisticalSurvey,2012;GeoinfoLLC,2013
Takingintoaccountthevaluesofthemodel,theprojectedvaluesofBOD5,suspendedparticles,total
nitrogen, ammonium and total phosphorus were calculated for Metsamor River basin. The values
wereobtainedbydividingthepollutantinflowratebythewaterflow.Thesevalueswerecompared
withtheaveragedvalue(20092012)oftheEIMC40thobservationpoint(11kmaboveEchmiadzin)
formonitoringofwaterqualityoftheMetsamorRiver.Theresultsareprovidedbelow:
Table23:ProjectedincrementsinwaterqualityindicatorsofMetsamorRiverbasinandactualmonitoringdata
BOD5,
mgD/l
Backgroundconcentrationsof
Metsamor
CalculatedincreaseinMetsamor
CalculatedincreaseinArmavir
CalculatedincreaseinTalin
Totalestimatedincreaseby
calculationofthenumberof
populationofthreetowns
Totalestimatedincreaseby
calculationofthetotalnumberof
populationinriverbasin
Expectedmodelvaluebycalculation
ofthenumberofpopulationofthree
towns
Expectedmodelvaluebycalculation
ofthetotalnumberofpopulationin
riverbasin
Actualmonitoringdata(observation
post#40)
Thedifferenceofmodelandactual
concentrations
Valuesofindicatorconcentrations
CODfull
SP
Phospho Nitrogen Ammonium
mgD/l
mg/l
rus,mg/l
mNg/l
mg/sec
3.0
10
6.2
0.174
2.27
0.103
5.56
1.72
0.93
8.33
2.57
1.40
8.33
2.57
1.40
0.13
0.04
0.02
1.44
0.44
0.24
0.95
0.29
0.16
8.20
12.30
12.30
0.20
2.12
1.41
41.50
62.25
62.25
1.00
10.72
7.12
11.2
22.30
18.5
0.374
4.39
1.513
44.5
72.25
68.45
1.174
12.99
7.103
3.0
29
22,5
0.281
4.2
0.89
41.5
43.25
45.95
0.893
9.09
6.213
Source:GeoinfoLLC,2013
31
The results show that there is a significant difference between water quality monitoring data and
modelcalculateddata,asinthecaseofAkhuryanRiverbasin.Thisdifferencealsocouldbeexplained
bythefactthatrecognitionofthepointnatureofpressureofcommunalwastewatersanduseofthe
model are most probably incomplete or limited. Firstly, wastewaters are not totally treated, and,
secondly, there are great losses in sewage pipelines, which lead to dispersion of wastewaters and
reductionoftheimpactonriverwaterquality.However,ifwetakeonlythecumulativecommunal
pressureofthethreelargesettlementsoftheMetsamorRiverbasinthroughthesewagepipeline,
the model calculated data will be quite consistent with actual monitoring data, except the BOD5
indicator.Theprocessofselftreatmentalsoneedstobetakenintoaccount,whichisapparentfrom
relatively low values of actual concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus. In general, the
aforementionedresultsshowthatcommunalwastewatershavesignificantpressureonqualityof
waterresourcesoftheMetsamorRiverbasin.
3.1.2.Wastewaterdischargefromfoodindustry
Food industry wastewaters discharge into the sewage network in Akhuryan and Metsamor river
basins,thereforetheimpactofthesewaterflowsisaddedtotheimpactofsewagepipeline.
The 86% of industrial enterprises in Akhuryan River basin is centralized in Gyumri town, and
industrial flows discharge into the sewage network, thus adding the impact of these flows to the
impactofsewagepipeline.Thepressureoffoodenterprisesonqualityofwaterresourcesofthe
Akhuryan River is also considered as significant, taking into consideration monitoring data in the
monitoringpost#34(RiverAkhuryan,5kmdownstreamofGyumri).
Thevolumeof all industrial flowsinMetsamor Riverbasinmakes 0.015m3/sec.in total.Theyare

dischargedintogeneralurbansewagepipelineandthendumpedintotheMetsamorRiver.Industrial
flowsofTalinarealsotreatedandfinallydischargedintotheMetsamorRiver.Thequantityoffood
industrywastewatersisactuallysmallinArmavirandTalin.Forexample,thevolumeofalltypesof
industrialwastewatersdischargedintoArmavirsewagepipelineishalfofthevolumeofcommunal
wastewaters.Theproportionoffoodindustrydischargeisnotidentified,therefore,itisimpossible
to differentiatethefoodenterprisepressurefromcommunalpressure.However,foodenterprises
alsohavesignificantpressureonqualityofwaterresourcesoftheMetsamorRiver.
Table24:RelativelylargeenterprisesofMetsamorRiverbasin
Nameoftheenterprise
Region
ArmavirMAPCJSC
Armavir
LevonLtd.
Armavir
BiokatPlusLtd.
Talin
ArmavorFermerCJSC
Armavir
ArmeniaWineCJSC
Talin
GoldenGrapeArmasOJSC
Armavir
SardarapatCJSC
Baghramyan
Zovk
Armavir
LocalBranchofYerevanBrandyFactoryCJSC
Armavir
Breadbakingplant
Armavir
Breadbakingplant
Talin
32
Fieldofactivity
Cannedfoodproduction,foodproduction
Foodanddairyproduction
Fishfarming
Drinkproduction
Processingofagriculturalproducts
Beverageproduction
Drinkproduction
Breadproduction
Breadproduction
3.1.3.Wastewaterdischargefromnonfoodindustryandmining
In order to assess impacts of mining and other industrial discharge in Akhuryan River basin, the
dynamicsofvaluesofmetalconcentrationsacrosstheriverstream(betweentheobservationposts
and in the observation posts) was studied, and relevant classification was made. The classification
was based on annual average concentration values of indicators for the period of 20102012. The
classification was made according to the Resolution #75N of the Government of Armenia of 27
January2011OnEstablishingthenormsforassuringwaterqualityofeachbasinmanagementarea,
dependinguponlocalpeculiarities(Annex1).
As the classification is based on natural background concentrations of metals, it allows assessing

industrial pressure. Owing to the impact of sewage water of Gyumri town, pollution loads of
chromium,nickel,zinc,molybdenum,cadmium,antimonyandleadincreasedintheAkhuryanRiver
(30%wastakenasamaximumpermissibleconcentrationusingexpertjudgmentmethod).Pollution
loads of sodium, calcium, vanadium, iron, manganese, cobalt and lead increased across the river
stream up to Gyumri and further. Despite the increase, the indicators were still classified as
excellentandgoodquality,accordingtotheecologicalnormsofclassificationofwaterquality.
Pollution loads of sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, bromine, manganese, strontium,

molybdenum,antimony,sulphateandchlorideionsandmineralizationvalueshaveincreasedinthe
KarkachunRiver,asaresultofextractionoftuffandothermineralsinArtikregion.Classificationof
the abovementioned indicators was also carried out. Out of these indicators, only sodium and
ammonium were classified as poor, manganese and mineralization moderate, and the rest
wereclassifiedasthosehavinggoodorexcellentstatus.
InthelowersectionsoftheAshotsktributaryoftheAkhuryanRiverthereareironandmolybdenum
ore deposits,whichhavenever been underexploitation. Drainage watersfromthesesites contain
highconcentrationsofarsenic,titanium,manganese,nickel,iron,chrome,boron.Accordingtodata
from EIMC, the concentration of arsenic in Ashotsk River mouth exceeds the concentration at the
riversourcebyalmost50times.Asaresult,thewaterqualityinAshotskRivermouthcorrespondsto
moderate(III)class.
The iron and molybdenum ore deposits of Ashotsk region pose significant pressure on Ashotsk
tributary of Akhuryan River. Extraction and processing of construction materials has significant
impactontheKarkachunRiver.
Construction materials, particularly tuff, andesitebasalt, perlite sands and scoriae are extracted in
MetsamorRiverbasin.Currentlythereare50minesintheriverbasin.Thereare35operationalpits
inArmavirregion,ontotallandareaof420hectares.Dischargefrommines,thelayerwashedfrom
surface, operation of extracting equipment, discharge of cooling liquids from crushing and
processing activities have certain impacts on water quality of the Metsamor River. However,
presentlyitisimpossibletodifferentiatetheportionoftheseimpactsintheoverallpollution,dueto
absenceofrelevantdata.
Most industrial discharges come from Armavir Hoktemberyani Ferosplav CJSC, at the volume of
485.1 t/year. Sulfur dioxide generally is the major part of these discharges, partially covering the
riverbasinassulfuricacidandcausingacidicerosioninthesurfacelandlayer.Asaresult,anumber
of metals dissolve from the soil and pass into water environment, which may partially appear in
groundwater,andprimarilyinMetsamorRiverwater,sedimentsandirrigationwater.
33

Inordertoassessimpactsofminingandotherindustrialdischarges,thedynamicsofvaluesofmetal
concentrations across the river stream (between and in observation points) was studied, and
relevant classification was made. The classification was based on annual average concentration
valuesofindicatorsfortheperiodof20102012andwasmadeaccordingtotheResolution#75Nof
the Government of Armenia of 27 January 2011 On Establishing the norms for assuring water
qualityofeachbasinmanagementarea,dependinguponlocalpeculiarities.
As the classification is based on natural background concentrations of metals, it allows assessing

industrialpressure.Despitetheincreaseofconcentrationvaluesofthemostoftheindicatorsinthe
upstream observation point and across the river compared to background concentrations, water
qualityisstillclassifiedashavingexcellentandgoodstatus.Thus,waterqualityisnotsubjectto
any significant change.Taking intoaccount the achieved results and the small quantity of Armavir
industrial water flows (0.015 m3/sec), it could be concluded that discharges of Armavir industrial
wastewatersdonothaveasignificantimpactonwaterqualityoftheMetsamorRiver.
RelevantobservationsandlaboratoryanalysisareconductedbytheEIMCandNuclearPowerPlant.
Concentrationvaluesofthekeyindicators(Pb,Cs,Sr,U,etc.)correspondtobackgroundvaluesand
they are typical of the other river basins, as well. Results of the studies show that the Nuclear
PowerPlantdoesnothaveimpactonwaterqualityofthebasin.
3.1.4.Solidwastes
Thereare6officiallyoperatinglandfillsinGyumri,Artik,Maralik,Armavir,TalinandMetsamortownsof
AkhuryanandMetsamorriverbasins.Allthementionedlandfillsareinapoorcondition.Landfillshave
turned intoareas ofirregular wastepiles.Theylack filtratedwastewatercollectionsystems, and,as a
result, wastewaters infiltrate into soils, causing pollution of ground and surface waters. Although the
landfillsareinapoorconditionandpresentasourceofenvironmentalpollution,theycannothavestrong
pressuresonwaterresourcesoftheriverbasinastheyaresmallinsize,excepttheoneinGyumri.The
landfillofGyumri,withtotalareaof40hectares,issituatedneartheAkhuryanRiverandithasanegative
impactontheAkhuryanRiver,theriversectionlocatedamongthesettlementsfromArapiandAkhurik.
Thewaterflowsgeneratedfromwashingoflandfillsreducewaterqualitydirectlyorindirectly,leaking
intogroundwater.
In Metsamor River basin industrial and construction wastes are transported together with solid
wastes to urban and rural landfills. Some wastes are stored in industrial sites and reused for
industrial and other purposes, (i.e. the slag of ferromolybdenum). Another example includes the
residuesofbrandyfactoryproduction,approximately3000t/year,whichisaccumulatedrightonthe
territory of the factory. Currently this residue is used for reclamation of saline, alkali soil and
fertilizationofagriculturalcrops.Theresiduesofgrapesafterthelastpressingisapproximately2000
tonsannuallyandtheseareusedasforage.
Itcanbeconcludedthatsolidwasteshavecertainlocalimpactonqualityofwaterresourcesofthe
AkhuryanBMA.Howeveritcannotbeconsideredassignificantpressureduetospatialdistribution
andsmallfootagearea.
34
3.2. Diffuse sources of pollution
3.2.1.Cultivationofagriculturalcropsanduseoffertilizers
About35%ofagriculturallandsintheAkhuryanRiverbasin80,500ha,arearablelands.In2013,
61,309haofarablelandsoftheriverbasinwerecultivated(Figure12).
Figure13:AgriculturalCropsintheAkhuryanRiverbasin,hectares,asof2013.(Datasource:AnnualReportofthe
ShirakMarzpetaranonSocialEconomicSituationintheShirakMarz,NationalStatisticalServiceoftheRepublicof
Armenia,2012).
Grainscropsaccountedfor69%oftheagriculturalcropsintheriverbasin.Accordingtoinformation
obtainedfromtheShirakMarzpetaran,4,250tonsofnitrogenfertilizerswereusedforagricultural
crops in the river basin in 2013. About 70 kilograms of nitrogen fertilizers were applied for 1 ha,
whereasonaverage150200kgisrequiredfor1hawithsimilaragriculturalcrops.Duetoalackof
disaggregateddataonapplicationofthefertilizersinspecificareasoftheriverbasin,andbasedon
the assumption that fertilizers are mainly applied evenly on agricultural lands, it is assumed that
nitrogenfertilizersusedintheintheriverbasinin2013cannotposesignificantpressureonwater
quality.
About24%oftheagriculturallandsintheMetsamorRiverbasin54,456ha,arearablelands.In
201343,150hawerecultivated,whichcomprise79%ofthetotalarablelandsofthebasin(Figure
13).
According to information obtained from the Aragatsotn and Armavir Marzpetarans, 5,100 tons of
nitrogenfertilizerswereusedforagriculturalcropsintheriverbasinin2013.About118kilogramsof
nitrogenfertilizerswereappliedfor1ha,whereasonaverage150200kgisrequiredfor1hawith
similaragriculturalcrops.
Duetoalackofdisaggregateddataonapplicationofthefertilizersinspecificlocationsoftheriver
basins,andbasedontheassumptionthatfertilizersaremainlyappliedevenlyonagriculturallands,
it is concluded that nitrogen fertilizers used in the in the Akhuryan BMA do not pose significant
pressureonwaterquality.
35
Figure14:AgriculturalCropsintheMetsamorRiverbasin,hectares,asof2013.(Datasource:NationalStatistical
ServiceoftheRepublicofArmenia,2014;AnalyticalInformationCenteroftheEconomicReforms,Achievementsof
AragatsotnMarzoftheRepublicofArmeniain20072011,2012;andAchievementsofArmavirMarzoftheRepublic
ofArmeniain20072011,2012)
3.2.2.Livestockproduction
ManurefromlivestockproductionisoneofthepressuresposedonwaterresourcesoftheAkhuryan
BMA.Manureiswashedintosurfacewatersandinfiltratesintogroundwaterresources,leadingto
increasedconcentrationsofnitrogen,phosphorousandorganiccompoundsinthewaters.
Livestock production is a traditional branch of agriculture in the Akhuryan River basin. Pastures
occupy55%oftheterritoryoftheriverbasin.Naturalclimaticconditionsandextensivepasturesare
favorablefordevelopmentofcattlebreeding,particularlyinAniandArtikregionsoftheAkhuryan
Riverbasin(Figure14).
Figure15:LivestockintheAkhuryanRiverbasin,asof2013,thousandcapita(Datasource:AnnualReportoftheShirak
MarzpetaranonSocialEconomicSituationintheShirakMarzin2013,2014;NationalStatisticalServiceoftheRepublic
ofArmenia,2014)
36
After collapse of the Soviet Union and subsequent economic crisis, the total number of livestock
significantlydecreasedintheAkhuryanRiverbasin.However,duringtherecent10yearsanincrease
ofthelivestockcapitahasbeenrecoded.
DataonpollutionloadsofnitrogenandphosphorousfromthelivestockproductionintheAkhuryan
Riverbasinasof2013ispresentedinthetablebelow.
Table25:AnnualpollutionloadsoffromlivestockproductionintheAkhuryanRiverbasin,ton/year
Normfrom1animal,ton/year
Total,ton/year
Livestock
Capita
Manure Nitrogentotal Phosphorus
Manure
Nitrogentotal Phosphorus
Cattle
105,700
8.00
0.0055
0.0013
845,600
581.35
137.41
Pigs
15,700
2.00
0.0059
0.0020
31,400
92.63
31.4
Sheepandgoats
86,400
0.40
0.0107
0.0022
34,560
924.48
190.08
Poultry
315,000
0.04
0.0130
0.0041
12,600
4095
1291.5
Total
924,160
5,693.46
1,650.39
Source:EnvironmentalImpactMonitoringCenteroftheMinistryofNatureProtectionoftheRepublicofArmenia,2013;
EnvironmentalDefenseFundScorecard(www.scorecard.org),Animalwasteanationaloverview,2000
IntheMetsamorRiverbasin,where47%ofthebasinareaispastures,livestockproductionisalso
amongthetraditionalbranchesofagriculture(Figure15).
Figure16:LivestockintheMetsamorRiverbasin,asof2013,thousandcapita(Datasource:NationalStatisticalService
oftheRepublicofArmenia,2014;AnalyticalInformationCenteroftheEconomicReforms,Achievementsof
AragatsotnMarzoftheRepublicofArmeniain20072011,2012;andAchievementsofArmavirMarzoftheRepublic
ofArmeniain20072011,2012)
DataonpollutionloadsofnitrogenandphosphorousfromthelivestockproductionintheMetsamor
Riverbasinasof2013ispresentedinthetablebelow.Theresultsshowthatquantitiesofnitrogen
andphosphorusdischargesbothintheAkhuryanRiverbasinandMetsamorRiverbasinarerather
large.Basinanalysisindicatesthatthehighestconcentrationsofthesepollutantsareobservedinthe
Karkachun river basin of the Akhuryan River basin Ani and Artik regions, as well as Talin and
BaghramyanregionsoftheMetsamorRiverbasin.
37
Table26:AnnualpollutionloadsoffromlivestockproductionintheMetsamorRiverbasin,ton/year
Normfrom1animal,ton/year
Total,ton/year
Livestock
Capita
Manure Nitrogentotal Phosphorus
Manure
Nitrogentotal Phosphorus
Cattle
82,400
8.00
0.0055
0.0013
659,200
453.2
107.12
Pigs
36,100
2.00
0.0059
0.0020
72,200
212.99
72.2
Sheepandgoats
22,200
0.40
0.0107
0.0022
8,800
237.54
48.84
Poultry
320,000
0.04
0.0130
0.0041
12,800
4,160
1,312
Total
753,080
5,063.73
1,540.16
Source:EnvironmentalImpactMonitoringCenteroftheMinistryofNatureProtectionoftheRepublicofArmenia,2013;
EnvironmentalDefenseFundScorecard(www.scorecard.org),Animalwasteanationaloverview,2000
LivestockproductionishavingasignificantpressureonqualityofwaterresourcesintheAkhuryan
andMetsamorriverbasins.
Livestock production may also lead to overgrazing, resulting in loss of vegetation cover and land
erosion,whichposepressureonqualityofwaterresources.
Main data on the pastures, as well as large and small cattle in the Akhuryan and Metsamor River
basinsin2013ispresentedinthetablebelow.
Table27:DataonpasturesandcattleintheAkhuryanandMetsamorRiverbasins,asof2013
Pastures,
Largecattle,
Smallcattle,
Pasturepera
Area
ha
animals
animals
largecattle,ha
126,500
105,700
86,400
1.19
AkhuryanRiverbasin
106,643
82,400
104,100
1.29
MetsamorRiverbasin
Pasturepera
smallcattle,ha
1.46
1.02
According to standards currently applied in Armenia, 0.5 ha of pasture is required as sufficient

grazingareaforonelargecattle,and0.05haforsheepandgoats.
Basedonthecalculationsmadeabove,thereisnoovergrazingintheAkhuryanandMetsamorRiver
basins,andovergrazinghasnosignificantpressureonwaterbodiesoftheAkhuryanBMA.
3.2.3.Vehicletransport
M1YerevanTalinGyumriBavraRAstateborder(withGeorgia)andM7RAborder(withTurkey)
GyumriVanadzorhighwaysarehighwayswithrelativehightrafficintheAkhuryanRiverbasin.The
key highways in Metsamor River basin include M1 (YerevanTalinGyumriBavra RA state border)
andM5YerevanArmavirBagaran(stateborderbetweentheRAandTurkey).Heretootheroutes
arefarfromsurfaceandgroundwaterresources,therefore,theydonothavesignificantpressureon
waterresources.
Based on the analysis and evaluation of the highway traffic density and freights conducted at the
stageofthebasinanalysis,aswellastakingintoaccountthefactthatroadsmainlypassbylocations
farfromsurfaceandgroundwaterresources,itcanbeconcludedthethatvehicletransportdoes
notposeasignificantpressureonwaterresources.
38
3.3. Hydromorphological alterations

3.3.1.Waterabstraction
Communal purposes: Water abstraction for communal purposes in the Akhuryan and Metsamor
river basins, which comprises 2.3% and 11.7% of the total water abstraction in the river basins
respectively, is implemented from the groundwater resources, and it has insignificant pressure on
hydromorphologicalconditionsoftheriverbasins.
Discharges of communal wastewater, based on the expert judgment, has insignificant pressure on
hydromorphological conditions of the Akhuryan and Metsamor River basins. Due to absence of
wastewater treatment facilities in the Akhuryan BMA, communal wastewaters discharged into
surfacewaterresourceshavespatialdistribution.
Irrigation: The irrigation infrastructure in the Akhuryan River basin consists of the system of
reservoirs,pumpingstationsandcanals.
Annuallyabout550millionm3ofwaterisstoredinthereservoirsoftheAkhuryanriverbasin,which
isprimarilyusedforirrigationpurposes.
Maincharacteristicsofthestoragereservoirsthatarebuiltontheperennialriversarepresentedin
thetablebelow.
Table28:MaincharacteristicsofreservoirsintheAkhuryanRiverbasin
Surfaceare,
Totalvolume,
Usablevolume,
Nameofthereservoir
Sourceoffeeding
km2
millionm3
millionm3
LakeArpi
Dzoraget,Karmrajur,
22.1
100.0
5.0
Yeghnajurriversand
springs
Akhuryan
Akhuryanriver
48.39
525.0
510
Mantash
Mantashriver
0.94
8.20
7.90
Kaps
Akhuryanriver
0.78
Tavshut
Tavshutriver
0.58
6.0
5.75
Vardaqar
Karkachunriver
0.57
5.0
4.7
Sarnaghbyur
MetsDzoriJurriver
0.68
5.0
4.85
Source:StateCommitteeonWaterSystemsoftheMinistryofTerritorialAdministrationoftheRepublicofArmenia,2014.
There are 28 pumping stations in the Akhuryan River basin, including nonoperational. Main
characteristicsofthepumpsatiationsthattakewaterdirectlyfromtheriversarepresentedbelow.
Table29:MaincharacteristicsofthepumpingstationsoftheAkhuryanRiverbasin
Sourceoffeeding
Capacity,
m3/sec
Commandarea,
ha
Voskehask
Akhuryanriver
0.55
590
Akhuryan
Akhuryanriver
0.36
67
Akhurikfirstandsecondlevels
Akhuryanriver
0.66
185
Bayandurfirstlevel
Akhuryanriver
0.57
91
Gharibjanyan
Akhuryanriver
0.64
247
Kharkov
Akhuryanriver
0.16
There are about 20 big and small canals in the Akhuryan river basin, providing irrigation to about
28,600hectares.Characteristicsofthecanalsthattakewaterfromtheriversarepresentedbelow.
39

Table30:CharacteristicsofthecanalsofAkhuryanRiverbasin
Nameofthecanal
Sourceoffeeding
Length,
km
Capacity,
m3/sec
Irrigated
area,ha
Shirakcanal
Akhuryanriver
21.3
6.6
9,817
Voskehaskpump,canal
Akhuryanriver
6.1
0.6
590
Karangiriverwingcanal
Karanguriver
0.8
0.3
123
Bayandurpumpingstationcanal
Akhuryanriver
2.3
0.2
91
Akhuryanriver
30.18
5
4,230
Akhuryanriver
4.4
0.7
755
Khothundzimechanicalirrigation
Akhuryanriver
0.8
0.6
1,298
LeftbankcanaloftheKaranguRiver
Karkachunriver
2.9
1.5
1,144
RightbankcanaloftheKaranguRiver Karkachunriver
17.4
2
1,193
Reservoirs in the Akhuryan River basin disrupt the rivers continuum and alter their hydrological
regime,includingnaturalflow,flowvelocityandlevelregime,decreasesedimenttransportation.
AccordingtotheRiverbasinAnalysisreport(January2013),andexpertsobservations,about11km
long stretch of the Akhuryan River (from Berdashen community to Pokr Sepasar community) is
diverted though the earthen canal. This was done in 1951, after construction of the Lake Arpi
reservoirwiththepurposeofregulatingtheriverflowbystraighteningtheriverbed.Thisdiversion
alteredthenaturalregimeoftheAkhuryanRiver.
Figure17:StretchoftheAkhuryanRiverwithmodifiedriverbed(Datasources:EPIRBProject,2013;GoogleEarth,2014)
40

Headwork/intake structures of the pumping stations and the canals that directly take water from
riversalterthemorphologyandhydrologicalregimeoftherivers,includingtheriverbanks,riparian
zone,flowregimeandlevel.
The irrigation infrastructure in the Metsamor River basin also consists of the system of storage
reservoirs,pumpingstationsandcanals.
There are about 9 reservoirs in the Metsamor river basin, with total 5.15 million m3 of usable
volume,whicharebuiltontheephemeralrivers(tributariesofMetsamorRiver).Snowmeltwateris
accumulatedandstoredinthesereservoirs,whichisusedforirrigationpurposes.
There are 30 pumping stations in the Akhuryan River basin, including nonoperational. Main
characteristicsofthepumpsatiationsthattakewaterdirectlyfromtheriversarepresentedbelow.
Table31:MaincharacteristicsofthepumpingstationsoftheMetsamorRiverbasin
Sourceoffeeding
Capacity,
m3/sec
Commandarea,
ha
Zartonk
Metsamorriver
5.05
2,875
Hoktemberian
Arasriver
1.66
914
Vardanashen
Fromthelakes
0.28
70
Yervandashat
Arasriver
0.08
20
Aknalich
LakeMetsamor
4.55
2,210
Arevshat1st
LakeMetsamor
12.25
3,637
Araks1
Metsamorriver
1.05
70
Araks2
Metsamorriver
0.7
60
Metsamor
Metsamorriver
0.55
232
23canalsprovideirrigationforapproximately41,225haarablelands.Characteristicsofthecanals
thattakewaterfromtheriversarepresentedbelow.
Table32:CharacteristicsofthecanalsintheMetsamorRiverbasin
Nameofthecanal
Sourceoffeeding
Length,
km
Capacity,
m3/sec
Irrigated
area,ha
Armavircanal
Arasriver
43.65
3550
19,538
Zartonkpumpingstationcanal
Metsamorriver
11.86
5
2,871
Metsamorriver
17.9
3
10.1
Jraratcanal
Metsamorriver
19.4
5
1,440
Metsamorleftbankcanal
Metsamorriver
16.8
11.2
226
Metsamorriver
0.6
0.35
390
SisAraks N1, N2 pumping station Metsamorriver
0.9
0.25
130
canal
Metsamorriver
0.6
0.35
350
Talincanal
Akhuryanriver
23.4
27.5
8
Karmrashencanal
Karmrashenriver
2.5
2.5
64
Hatsashencanal
MastaraJurriver
3.5
2.5
118
ReservoirsintheMetsamorRiverbasindonothavesignificanteffectsonhydrologicalregimeofthe
rivers, as all the reservoirs are built on the ephemeral rivers/stream, with the purpose of
accumulatingthesnowmeltwaters.
41
Headwork/intake structures of the pumping stations and the canals that directly take water from
riversalterthemorphologyandhydrologicalregimeoftherivers,includingtheriverbanks,riparian
zone,flowregimeandlevel.
Hydropower generation: There are currently 8 operating small HPPs in the Akhuryan River basin,
and 3 are under the construction. Most of them are operated on the irrigation canals or drinking
watersupplypipelines.MaincharacteristicsofthesmallHPPs,whicharebuiltontheriversofthe
AkhuryanRiverbasinaresummarizedinthetablebelow:
Table33:MainCharacteristicsofthesmallHPPsintheAkhuryanRiverbasin
Nameof
thesmall
HPP
Paros
Marmashen
Amasia
Yeghnajur
Cascade
Status
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Inconstruction
Capacity
kW
2,380
2,150
1,600
1,230
4,270
Flow,m3/
sec
Watersource
9.2 AkhuryanRiver
16.0 AkhuryanRiver
AkhuryanRiver
YeghnajurRiver
9.54 AkhuryanRiver
Ecological
flow
maintained
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Fishpasses
exist
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Source:PublicServicesRegulatoryCommission,2013;AkhuryanBasinManagementOrganization,WRMA,2014
According to data and information received from the Akhuryan BMO, ecological flow downstream
theMarmashenandParossmallHPPsisnotmaintained.Accordingtothesamesource,itisexpected
thataftercommissioningof the CascadesmallHPP ontheAkhuryanRiver, the ecologicalflow will
alsonotbemaintained.
Figure18:SectionsofAkhuryanRiverwhereecologicalflowisnotmaintainedduetoHPPoperation(Datasource:
AkhuryanBasinManagementOrganization,WRMA,2014)
42
ThesesmallHPPs,despitetheirsmallscale,posesignificantpressureonwaterresourcesintermsof
failuretomaintainecologicalflowinsomesectionsoftheAkhuryanRiver,asaresultofdisrupted
rivercontinuumandalteredhydrologicalregime.
Figure19:CascadesmallHPPbeingconstructedonAkhuryanRiver(Photoby:AkhuryanBasinManagement
OrganizationoftheWaterResourcesManagementAgencyoftheMinistryofNatureProtectionofArmenia,2012)
Currently3operationaland2plannedsmallHPPsintheMetsamorRiverbasinareinstalledonthe
irrigationcanals.Theirconstructionandoperationdonotposehydromorphologicalpressures.
FishFarming:FishfarmingintheAkhuryanRiverbasindoesnothaveapressureonquantityand
qualityofsurfaceandgroundwaterresourcesoftheriverbasin.Waterusebythesesmallscale
fisheriescomprises0.01%ofthetotalwaterabstraction.
WaterabstractionforfisherypurposesintheMetsamorRiverbasinhasasignificantpressureon
the Metsamor River, as well as the groundwater resources, particularly in the Armavir and
Vagharshapat regions of the basin. Intensive use of groundwater resources in the Metsamor river
basin over the last 710 years (actual annual use of groundwater resources in 2013 exceeded the
permittedvolumebyalmost3times)ledtodroppinggroundwaterlevels,reductioninpressureand
capacitiesofthegroundwaterwellsandsprings.
This caused decrease in the discharge of the SevjurAknalich springs. According to data from the
Armenian Hydrometeorological Monitoring Service of Armenia, the flow of the Metsamor River in
Taronikobservationpost(upperreachoftheriver)decreasedalmost6timein19832013:from17.8
to3m3/sec.AtthesametimewaterregimeofMetsamorRiverhasreducedsignificantly,duetothe
impactsfromgroundwaterusebyfishfarmingpurposes.
43
y = -0,1666x + 353,32
R2 = 0,391
35,0
, 3/
30,0
25,0
20,0
15,0
10,0
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Figure20:FlowalterationtrendobservedatMetsamorRanchpargaugingstation,intheperiodof19472004
(Datasource:ArmenianStateHydrometeorologicalandMonitoringService,MinistryofEmergencySituationsof
Armenia2012)
UncontrolleddrillingofgroundwaterwellsintheMetsamorRiverbasin,inadequatetechnicaldesign
ofwellsdrilledintheMetsamorRiverbasin,aswellasnoncompliancewiththeestablished500m
distancebetweenwells,naturalhydraulicconnectionsbetweenlayersweredistorted.Inparticular,
becauseofthedrillingofwellsintoodenseofanetwork,thenumberofhydrogeologicalwindows
betweenvariousaquifershasincreased,causingdepletionofpiezometriclevel,mixingofwaterfrom
variousaquifers,andchangesinchemical contentof groundwater(increasingmineralizationupto
0.3g/l).Theoutflowcomponentofaquifersalsowasimpacted;thedischargeofnaturalspringshas
decreasedsharply(Source:AssessmentStudyofGroundwaterResources,USAIDArmenia,2014).
Industry:WateruseforindustrialpurposesintheAkhuryanandMetsamorRiverbasins(36.8million
m3 annually) has no significant hydromorphological pressure in the Akhuryan BMA, as water is
mostlyabstractedfromgroundwaterresourcesinsmallvolumes.
3.3.2.Diversionofriverflow

Interbasin water transfers by diversion of the river flows cause significant changes in the water
regimeoftherivers(i.e.increaseorreductionofwaterflow).Therearethefollowingdiversionsin
theAkhuryanBMA:
DiversionoftheAkhuryanriverflowintoMetsamorRiverbasinviaTalinmaincanal,
DiversionoftheAraksriverflowintoMetsamorRiverbasinviaArmavirmaincanal,and
DiversioniftheMetsamorRiverflowsintoHrazdanriverbasinviaMkhchyanpumpingstation.
As a result, annually about 300 million m3 of water is transferred from the Akhuryan River (lower
reaches)toMetsamorRiverbasinTalincanalnearby,Aragatsavancommunity.Thiswaterismainly
usedforirrigatingabout17,000haofagriculturallandsinTalinandBaghramyanregionsoftheriver
basin.
In the lower reaches of the Metsamor River, at the river mouth, about 5 m3/sec of water is
transferredtoHrazdanRiverbyMkhchyanpumpingstation.Thiswaterisusedforirrigatingabout
5,200haofagriculturallandsintheHrazdanandAzatRiverbasins.
44
Taking into consideration the volume of transferred water within the total water flow in the river
basins of the Akhuryan BMA, these interbasin transfers do not pose significant pressure on the
waterresourcesoftheAkhuryanBMA.
3.3.3.Floodprotection
InAkhuryanRiverbasinfloodscausedamagestotheripariansettlementsandlands.Humanimpact
alsoservesareasonforfloodsinmanymudflowriversintheriverbasin.Mostriverbedsandflood
plainsarefilledwithmunicipalgarbage,constructionandmiscellaneousindustrialwastes.
Floods occur in the stretch of the Akhuryan River starting downstream of Gyumri town to the
Akhuryan reservoir. Mostly agricultural lands and selected houses in the Akhurik community are
beingaffected.
IntheMetsamorRiverbasinthecommunitiesandlandssurroundingtheAraksRiverareunderthe
flood risk. Talin and Baghramyan regions are inundated by SelavMastara River and its tributaries.
Over 3.03.5 thousand hectares of land in Araks zone are flooded or have turned into wetlands
(mostly in the parts where the sand had been removed). The anthropogenic factor also serves a
reason for intensification and gravity of mudflows and floods. Municipal garbage and industrial
waste,etc.aredumpedintotheriverbeds.
To prevent flooding of the agricultural lands and communal and private properties, activates are
implemented annually in Akhuryan and Metsamor River basins aimed at restoration and
reinforcement the Akhuryan River Bank, Araks River bank, cleaning of the Metsamor and Selav
Mastara river beds which reduce the probability of flooding of the agricultural lands and
settlements.Theseactivitieshaveanongoingnature.
Floodprotectionmeasures,particularlyplacementofgabionsattheriverbanks,andsomecases,
cleaningofthebeds,posepressuresonhydromorphologicalconditionsofriversoftheAkhuryan
Riverbasin(downstreamGyumri,Haikavantributary)andMetsamorRiverbasin(lowerstretches).
45
4.IMPACTS
4.1 Approach used to assess the impacts of the pressures

ThefollowingmonitoringdatawereavailableforassessingtheimpactsofthepressuresinAkhuryan
BMA:
Results of chemicalphysical monitoring from 11 observation posts of EIMC (8 posts in
AkhuryanRiverbasinand3postsinMetsamorRiverbasin);
ResultsofthefirstroundofJointFieldSurvey(June2013)from2samplingpoints.

Thestatusofchemicalqualityelementshasbeenassessedbasedontheanalysisofthemonitoring
data of threeyear period (20112013). The detailed analysis of the monitoring data is provided in
Annex2ofthisReport.
The status of biological quality elements has been assessed using Rapid Biological Assessment
methodbasedonthedataonbenthicmacroinvertebratecommunities.Thedetaileddescriptionof
theRBAdeterminationSchemeisprovidedinAnnex3ofthisReport.
The status of hydromorphological quality elements has been assessed based on the results of JFS
using the classification scheme that had been developed under the EU TransBoundary River
ManagementPhaseIIfortheKuraRiverbasinArmenia,Georgia,AzerbaijanProject.

4.2. Assessment of biological status
Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/ in Europe requires monitoring of the benthic
macroinvertebrate communities (macrozoobenthos) and ecological status/potential assessment of
rivers. Most of the Geographic Intercalibration Groups (GIG) under the WFD compare
macroinvertebratedatasetsusingasadimensionthenumberofindividualspersquaremeterbased
onsocalledmultihabitatsampling.
ARapidBiologicalAssessment(RBA)methodisbasedontheanalysisofbenthicmacroinvertebrate
communities(macrozoobenthos),whichhavebeendividedintofivearbitraryIndicator Groupsas
follows: Group A (the sensitive forms), Group B (the less sensitive forms), Group C (the tolerant
forms),GroupD(theverytolerantforms),andGroupE(themosttolerantforms).
Biological material for examination is obtained by sampling in the shallower, fasterflowing areas
(e.g.riffles)andtheassessmentofecologicalstatusismadeonsite.Havingdeterminedtherelative
proportionsofthevariousorganismsinthesample,ecologicalstatusisinferredbyacomparisonof
this data with that which might be expected from reference conditions of the river type under
investigation.Otherrelevantfactorssuchastheintensityofalgaland/orweeddevelopment,water
turbidity, bottom siltation, substratum type, current speed (velocity), water depth, DO saturation,
electricalconductivityandpH,arealsotakenintoaccountintheassessmentprocedure.
46
ThesegroupsandtheirrelationshipswithRBAaresetoutinthetablebelow.
Table34:Minimumaveragemonthlyflowchanges,duetoanthropogenicactivity(millionm3)
Totalnumberoftaxa
Nooftaxa
Indicator
intheindicator
0 1
2 5
6 10
11 15
16+
Group
group
ValueofRBAIndex(%)
3+
n.a.
75
80
90
100
2
n.a.
60
75
80
95
1
5
40
60
75
85
3+
n.a.
40
60
75
80
13
5
25
50
65
70
Allaboveindicator
5
25
35
45
55
groupsabsent
Allaboveindicator
D
5
20
25
30
n.a.
groupsabsent*
Allaboveindicator
0
10
15
n.a.
n.a.
groupsabsent*
(*)Fewspecimenofaboveindicatorgroupscouldpresentinthesample
Source:RapidBiologicalAssessment(RBA)basedonanalysisofbenthicmacroinvertebratecommunities,2013
Basedonthedescribedamethod,onesetofsamplinghasbeentakenin20samplingpointsof
AkhuryanBMAduringthefirstroundofJointFieldSurveyinJune2013.Thetableandthemap
belowshowtheresultsofthemonitoring.
Table35:MacrozoobenthosstatusclassificationbasedontheresultsofJointFieldSurvey(June2013)
Site
number
SW01
SW02
SW03
SW04
SW05
SW06
SW07
SW08
SW09
SW10
SW11
SW12
SW13
SW14
SW15
SW16
SW17
SW18
SW19
SW20
Sitename
YeghnagurGarnarich
KarmirjurShaghik
DzoragetDzorakert
TavshutTavshut
TsaghkashenSaragyugh
LernajurZernagyugh
HartashenHartashen
AkhuryanKrasar
KetiKeti
JajurJajur
HaikavanVoghchi
AkhuryanaboveGumri
AkhuryandownGumri
ArtikjurArtik
KarkachunBenyamin
SacnakhbiurSacnakhbur
MantashMetsmontash
MetsamorGai
MetsamorMetsamor
MetsamorRanchpar
WB
type
Measur.
flow,
m3/s
Water
use*
Macrozoobenthos
status
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
1
2
1
1
3
3
3
1.15
0.54
0.16
0.011
0.082
0.063
0.053
0.032
0.074
3.38
3.62
0.15
0.011
0.28
0.051
0.012
0.92
NO
NO
NO
WA
WA
NO
NO
WA,WW
NO
NO
WA,WW
WA
WW
NO
WA,WW
WW
WA
WA,WW
WA,WW
WA,WW
Highstatus
Highstatus
Highstatus
Moderatestatus
Goodstatus
Highstatus
Highstatus
Moderatestatus
Poorstatus
Goodstatus
Goodstatus
Highstatus
Badstatus
Highstatus
Poorstatus
Poorstatus
Highstatus
Highstatus
Badstatus
Badstatus
(*)WAWaterabstraction,WWwastewaterdischarge
Source:EnvironmentalProtectionofInternationalRiverBasinsProject,2013
47
Figure21:Classificationofthesurfacewaterresourcesbybiologicalstatus(ResourceManagementLLC,2014;Data
Source:JointFieldSurvey,EnvironmentalProtectionofInternationalRiverBasinsProject,June,2013)
48
4.3. Assessment of chemical status
Allpotentialpressures,frompointanddiffusesources,analyzedandassessedinprevioussections,
aswellaswaterqualitymeasurementsweregeneralized,inordertoassessimpactsonwaterbodies
ofAkhuryanBMA.TheclassificationwasmadeaccordingtotheprovisionsofResolution#75Nofthe
GovernmentofArmeniaof27January2011Onestablishingthenormsforassuringwaterqualityof
eachbasinmanagementarea,dependinguponlocalpeculiarities.Theclassificationwasbasedon
averageannualconcentrationvaluesofindicatorsoftheperiodof20112013.
Accordingtotheresultsoftheconductedanalysis,watersoftheriversoftheAkhuryanRiverbasin
areofhydrocarbonatesodiumcalciumnaturewithappropriateoxygenregime.Thelackofoxygen
contentwasrecordedinJulyandAugustmonthsatthefollowingriverstretches:(1)Akhuryanriver
section downstream Gyumri city; (2) Karkachun River mouth; and (3) Metsamor River section
downstreamEchmiadzintown.Inthementionedriverstretchestheoxygencontentcorrespondedto
thepoor(IV)qualityclass.Thelackofoxygencontentisduetocommunalwastewaterdischarges,
whichleadtohighconcentrationsoforganicpollutantsintheriverwatersduringlowwaterseasons.
AkhuryanRiveranditstributariesarecharacterizedbymoderatehardnessandlowmineralization.In
theupperreachesofAkhuryanriverbasin,thewatershavehighpotentialforselfpurificationthus
loweringtheimpactsoftheanthropogenicpressuresfromcommunalwastewatersandreturnflows
fromagriculture.Thus,thequalityofwaterinthesesectionscorrespondstothegood(II)class.In
thelowerreachesoftheriverbasinthequalityofwater
In the lower sections of the river basin, particularly at the lower streams of Akhuryan River, the
water quality is characterized by moderate (III) and poor (IV) status. At the Karkachun River
mouth the water quality corresponds to bad (V) status class due to high concentrations of
nutrientsinthereturnflowsfromagriculture.Inaddition,highconcentrationsoforganiccompounds
andhighlevelofmineralizationarealsorecordedinKarkachunRivermouth.
InthelowersectionsoftheAshotsktributaryoftheAkhuryanRiverthereareironandmolybdenum
ore deposits,whichhavenever been underexploitation. Drainage watersfromthesesites contain
highconcentrationsofarsenic,titanium,manganese,nickel,iron,chrome,boron.Accordingtodata
from EIMC, the concentration of arsenic in Ashotsk River mouth exceeds the concentration at the
riversourcebyalmost50times.Asaresult,thewaterqualityinAshotskRivermouthcorrespondsto
moderate(III)class.
Waters of the rivers of the Metsamor River basin are of hydrocarbonatecalcium nature with
appropriateoxygenregime.Thewatersarecharacterizedbyhighhardnessandhighmineralization.
Accordingtotheresultsoftheconductedanalysis,thewaterqualityofMetsamorRiverintermsof
chemicalelementscorrespondstomoderate(III)andpoor(IV)statusclasses.Thewaterquality
mainlydependsonthetypesoffeedingsources.Sincealmost80%offeedingoftheMetsamorRiver
isfromgroundwatersources,thewatersarecharacterizedbyhighconcentrationsofmineralsand
rather high content of nutrients and organic compounds due to existence of a great number of
pondsandmarshesinthearea.Thementionedfactorsreducetheselfpurificationabilityoftheriver
andpromoteeutrophicationprocesses.
49
In addition, in the middle and lower sections of the Metsamor River the communal wastewaters
from the adjacent settlements and return flows from agriculture impact water quality and lead to
gradualeutrophicationoftheriver.
Akhuryan
River
Table36:SummaryofthechemicalstatusassessmentinAkhuryanBMA
#31:0.5kmupstreamAmasiavillage
Water
quality
class
(II)good
#32:1kmdownstreamAmasiavillage
#33:0.8kmupstreamGyumricity
(II)good
(II)good
#34:5kmdownstreamGyumricity
(IV)Poor
IDandlocationofthemonitoringpost
Metsamor
Karkachun Ashotsk
#35:nearYervandashatvillage
#36:0.5kmupstreamArtashenvillage
#37:rivermouth
#38:rivermouth
(III)
Moderate
(II)good
(III)
Moderate
(V)Bad
#40:10kmsouthofEchmiadzintown
(III)
Moderate
#41:11kmsoutheastofEchmiadzin
town
(IV)Poor
42:0.5downstreamofRanchparvillage
(IV)Poor
Main
indicator
parameters
Causeofsignificantpressure
Nutrients
Nutrients
Arsenic
Nutrients,
organic
compounds,
mineralization
Nutrients,
organic
compounds
Nutrients,
organic
compounds
Nutrients,
organic
compounds
Communalwastewaters,
returnflowsfromagriculture
Drainagewatersfromore
deposits
returnflowsfromagriculture,
extractionandprocessingof
constructionmaterials
Marshesandponds
Marshesandponds,
Marshesandponds,
DataSource:EnvironmentalImpactMonitoringCenteroftheMinistryofNatureProtectionofArmenia,2014
50
Figure22:Classificationofthesurfacewaterresourcesbychemicalstatus(ResourceManagementLLC,2014;Data
Source:EnvironmentalImpactmonitoringCenteroftheMinistryofNatureProtectionofArmenia,2014)
51
4.4. Assessment of hydromorphological status
Inordertofindthresholdsorclassboundaryvaluesforvariablesindicativeofhumaninducedstress
(physicalchemical parameters and hydromorphology should support biological elements (WFD
Annex V)) they should be correlated with the estimated biological status. However, sufficient
amountofdataisnecessarytomakesuchcorrelations.InthecaseoftheJointFieldSurvey,itwas
agreed to use the classification scheme for hydromorphological assessment, which have been
developed under the EU TransBoundary River Management Phase II for the Kura River basin
Armenia,Georgia,Azerbaijanproject.Thus,forhydromorphologyanassessmentscalefrom1to5
wasusedasdevelopedforthewaterbodiesintheDanuberiverbasin(SlovakRepublic)(seeTable
39).
Table37:Preliminarydelineationofthehydromorphologicalqualityclasses
Hydromorphologicalqualityclass
1
High
2
Good
3
Moderate
4
Poor
5
Bad
Limitvalues
1.0 1.7
1.8 2.5
2.6 3.4
3.5 4.2
4.35.0
Color
Source:SummaryReportoftheJointFieldSurveysinthepilotriverbasins,EPTISA,2013
Oneroundofhydromorphologicalassessmenthasbeencarriedoutin20pointsofAkhuryanBMA
duringthefirstroundofJointFieldSurveyinJune2013.Thetableandthemapbelowshowthe
resultsoftheassessment,basedontheabovedescribedthresholdvalues.
Table38:HydromorphologicalstatusclassificationbasedontheresultsofJointFieldSurvey(June2013)
Site
number
SW01
SW02
SW03
SW04
SW05
SW06
SW07
SW08
SW09
SW10
SW11
SW12
SW13
SW14
SW15
SW16
SW17
SW18
SW19
SW20
Sitename
YeghnagurGarnarich
KarmirjurShaghik
DzoragetDzorakert
TavshutTavshut
TsaghkashenSaragyugh
LernajurZernagyugh
HartashenHartashen
AkhuryanKrasar
KetiKeti
JajurJajur
HaikavanVoghchi
AkhuryanaboveGyumri
AkhuryandownGyumri
ArtikjurArtik
KarkachunBenyamin
SacnakhbiurSacnakhbur
MantashMetsmontash
MetsamorGai
MetsamorMetsamor
MetsamorRanchpar
HMscore/
status
1.2
1.2
1.3
2.5
1.2
1.2
1.2
2.5
1.7
1.2
3.0
2.5
3.3
1.0
4.0
2.3
2.5
5.0
2.5
2.5
WBtype
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
1
2
1
1
3
3
3
Source:EnvironmentalProtectionofInternationalRiverBasinsProject,2013
52
Figure23:Classificationofthesurfacewaterresourcesbyhydromorphologicalstatus(ResourceManagementLLC,
2014;DataSource:JointFieldSurvey,EnvironmentalProtectionofInternationalRiverBasinsProject,June,2013)
53
5.SIGNIFICANTWATERMANAGEMENTISSUESANDDATAGAPS
5.1. Identified significant water management issues in Akhuryan BMA
TablesbelowsummarizethesignificantanthropogenicpressuresonwaterresourcesintheAkhuryan
andMetsamorRiverbasins.
Table39:SummaryofsignificantanthropogenicpressuresonwaterresourcesoftheAkhuryanRiverbasin
Typeofpressure
Waterresource
Note
Communalwastewater Akhuryanriver
Communal wastewater collection is not carriedoutproperly,
downstreamGyumri
and, as a result, hazardous substances of organic and
inorganic origin flow into the river, together with rainwater.

Karkachunriver
This has significant impact on quality of the Akhuryan River
downstream Gyumri and Karkachun River. As a result, the

contents of BOD5, phosphorus, total nitrogen and suspended
particlesincrease.
Wastewatersfrom
Akhuryanriver
Wastewaters from food industry pass into the river through
the sewage system and have significant pressure on water
foodindustry
downstreamGyumri
quality.Thecontentsoforganicandinorganiccompositionsof
Karkachunriver
nitrogen and phosphorus increase in Akhuryan River
downstreamGyumriandinKarkachunRiver.
Wastewatersfrom
AshotskRiverfrom
Duetoironandmolybdenumoredeposits(whichhavenever
otherindustriesand
Ashotsksettlementto
beenunderexploitation)inthelowersectionsoftheAshotsk
mining
rivermouth
tributary of the Akhuryan River, the drainage waters from
these sites contain high concentrations of arsenic, titanium,

manganese,nickel,iron,chrome,boron.
KarkachunRiver
Due to extraction and processing of construction materials,
the contents of sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium,
bromine, manganese, strontium, molybdenum, antimony,
sulphate and chloride ions increase in the Karkachun River,
andduetoextractionofmineralsmineralizationvalues.Asa
result, water qualityof the Karkachun River was classifiedas
bad,interms ofsodiumandmolybdenum,andmoderate,in
termsofmanganese,antimonyandmineralization.
Waterabstractionfor
AkhuryanRiverupstream The ecological flow requirement is not maintained due to
hydropower
Amasiatown
operationofsmallHPPs.
generation
AkhuryanRiver
downstreamKaps
reservoir
Livestockproduction
Hydromorphological
alteration
Akhuryanriver
downstreamGyumri
Akhuryanriver
downstreamAkhuryan
reservoir
KarkachunRiver
AkhuryanRiver
downstreamLakeArpi
CattlebreedingintheAkhuryanRiverbasinleadstoincrease
in concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic
compounds particularly in the Akhuryan and Karkachun
Rivers.
About 11 km long stretch of the Akhuryan River (from

BerdashencommunitytoPokrSepasarcommunity)isdiverted
thoughtheearthencanal.
54
Table40:SummaryofsignificantanthropogenicpressuresonwaterresourcesoftheMetsamorRiverbasin
Typeofpressure
Waterresource
Note
Communal
Middleandlower
Sanitation of towns is not carried out properly. This has
wastewaters
sectionsofMetsamor
significant impacts on quality of the water resources of the
River
Metsamor River downstream Metsamor and Armavir towns.
Asaresult,contentsofBOD5, phosphorus,totalnitrogenand
suspendedparticlesincrease.
Wastewatersfrom
Middleandlower
Wastewaters from food industry pass into the Metsamor
foodindustry
sectionsofMetsamor
River through the sewage system and have significant
River
pressure on water quality. The contents of nitrogen,
phosphorusandorganiccompositionsincreaseinriverwater
afterArmavir,TalinandMetsamortowns.
Fishfarming
Middleandlower
Waterabstractionforfishfarminghassignificantpressureon
sectionsofMetsamor
groundwaterresourcesoftheSoutheasternpartofMetsamor
River
RiverbasinaswellasonMetsamorriverflow.Fishfarmingis
also a potential factor of water pollution and, judging from

Northwesternpartofthe thevolumesofconsumedwater:ithassignificantpressureon
qualityofwaterresourcesofMetsamorRiverbasin.
AraratArtesianBasin
Livestockproduction
SelavMastaratributary
CattlebreedingismostlydevelopedinTalinandBaghramyan
ofMetsamorRiver
regionsoftheMetsamorRiverbasin.Thisleadstoincreasein
contentsofnitrogen,phosphorusandorganiccompounds.
Lowersectionofthe
MetsamorRiver
Hydromorphological
Lowersectionofthe
According to the results of the first JFS, the lower section of
alteration
MetsamorRiver
the Metsamor River (around Gai settlement) has been
significantlyalteredintermsofhydromorphology.
5.2. Major data gaps in Akhuryan BMA
In the course of development of the pressureimpact analysis report some major data gaps were
identified.Ifthesedatahadbeenavailabletheycouldsignificantlychangethethinking,streamline
the expert judgments made on the nature and impact of several pressures and largely help in
identificationofwaterbodiesatrisk.Themaindatagapsidentifiedincludethefollowingcategories:
(1)Ecologyofthebasin,(2)Complianceassurance,(3)Hydromorphologicalmonitoring.
Theinformationontheecologyofthebasin,particularlywaterecologyisveryscarce.Thisisthecase
notonlyforAkhuryanBMA,butthroughoutArmenia.Nobiologicalmonitoringhasbeenconducted
inArmeniayet.Thisnaturallymakesitimpossiblesettingminimumecologicalflowrequirementsand
thusassessmentwhethertheserequirementsareviolatedduetohumanactivitiesornot.
Land use data in Akhuryan BMA is scarce, uncoordinated and not systemized. Some of the data
residesinthecommunities(theparametersofdatagreatlyvaryfromonecommunitytoanother),
whereastheothersresideintheMarzpetarans.Evenforveryimportantspheres,suchasapplication
of fertilizers in agricultural crop production, disaggregated data was available neither in
Marzpetarans nor in communities. The very rough expert judgment method was used to calculate
thevolumeofappliedfertilizers,andhencetomakejudgmentonthesignificanceofcropagriculture
productiononwaterbodiesintheBMA.
Compliance assurance (inspection by authorities to check that the enterprises not violate their
permit and enforcement by the authorities if the enterprise does not comply) is very weak in
Aghstev River basin. The responsible agency for compliance assurance is the State Environmental
Inspectorate (SEI), which according to legislation supervises the implementation of norms and
requirementsofwaterresourcesuseandprotectionbywaterusersincludingtheproperamountof
waterabstractionfromthesurfaceandgroundwaterresourcesandthewaterqualityofwastewater
55
discharges, except of radioactive materials. Additionally, the SEI is responsible for maintaining the
data obtained from the water users on water withdrawals, water return flows and its quality. The
compliancepracticesinAkhuryanBMAareextremelyweakandfallfarshortofmanyinternational
standards. Sampling and inspection by SEI is performed only once a year, for the most part, for
prioritizedsourcesandevenlessoftenforthenonprioritizedsources.Shortageofvehicles,lackof
mobile laboratories, lack of periodic quality assurance for the stationary laboratories of both
government and industry, shortage of computer equipment, and lack of sufficient sciencetrained
personnelareamongthereasonsthattheinspectionandsamplingfunctionissoinadequateinthe
waterresourcesmanagementsector.Thus,inthereportdata fromcomplianceassurancewasnot
usedandassumptionwasmadethatingeneralwateruseanddischargepermitconditionsarenot
violated,whichisseveralcasesmightnotbetrue.
Inaddition,asapartofcomplianceassurance,thereturnflowsfromfishfarmsshouldbemonitored
intermsoforganiccompounds.
Asforthehydromorphologicalmonitoring,theresultsofonlyoneJointFieldSurveyareused.The
JFS was conducted in June 2013 at 20 sampling points throughout the basin management area.
However,theexpertjudgmentsonsignificantanthropogenicpressuresarejustifiedbytheresultsof
the JFS and the classification of water bodies by biological and hydromorphological status were
provided. In addition, the hydromorphological and chemical monitoring has to be closely
coordinated, as information on flow at the water quality stations is crucial for the purpose of
extractingrelevantinformation,e.g.onthetransportofpollutants.
5.3. Proposal for the second Joint Field Survey
Takingintoconsiderationtheidentifieddatagaps,thefollowingapproachissuggestedforproposing
samplingpointsforthesecondJFStoobtaindataonbiological,chemicalandhydromorphological
qualityelements:
1. To add 5 sampling points on Lake Arpi, on Akhuryan, Mantash, Tavshut, and Sarnaghbyur
Reservoirs;
2. To add 2 new sampling points on the Akhuryan River, where the ecological flow is not
maintainedduetooperationofsmallHPPs.ThosetwositesarelocatednearAmasiatownand
Vahramaberdsettlement(belowKapsreservoir);
3. To add 1 sampling point downstream Karnut reservoir to check whether ecological flow
requirementismaintained;
4. To add 1 sampling point at the SelavMastara River at the location of EIMCs monitoring post
#39(0,5kmupstreamofKarakertsettlement);
5. To add 1 sampling point downstream Lake Arpi on the stretch of Akhuryan River with
straightenedriverbedbetweenBerdashenandPokrSepasarsettlements;
6. Torevisitthe10samplingsitesofthefirstJointFieldSurvey,wherethebiologicalandhydro
morphologicalstatusdifferintermsofbeingaboveorbelowgood.
Asaresultofapplicationoftheabovementionedcriteria,total20samplingpointsareproposedfor
thesecondJFS(Figure21)
.
56
Figure24:LocationsofthesamplingpointsproposedforthesecondJointFieldSurvey(ResourceManagementLLC,
2014)
57
Annex1.EcologicalNormsofWaterQualityinRiversofAkhuryanBasin
ManagementArea
(AccordingtoResolution#75NoftheGovernmentofArmenia,datedJanuary27,2011)
AkhuryanRiverbasin
Qualitycategory/indicator
Dissolvedoxygen
BOD5
CODCr
Ammoniumion
Nitriteion
Nitrateion
Orthophosphateion
Totalphosphorus
Totalmineralnitrogen
Suspendedparticles
Copper,total
Chromium,total
Arsenium,total
Cadmium,total
Lead,total
Nickel,total
Molybdenum,total
Manganese,total
Vanadium,total
Cobalt,total
Iron,total
Calcium
Magnesium
Barium
Beryllium
Potassium
Sodium
Lithium
Boron
Aluminum
Selenium,total
Antimony,total
Tin,total
Chlorideion
Sulphateion
Silicateion
Totalmineralization
Conductivity
Unitof
measure
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mgN/l
mgN/l
mgN/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
mg/l
mg/l
mgSi/l
mg/l
S/cm
excellent
good
>7
>6
3
5
10
25
0.057
0.4
0.007
0.06
0.463
2.5
0.085
0.1
0.086
0.2
0.8
4
25
30
3
23
2.1
12.1
0.42
20
0.6
1.6
0.9
10.9
2.9
12.9
0.97
1.94
26
52
10.6
21.2
0.67
1.34
0.78
1.56
26.7
100
8.4
50
35.6
71.2
0.04
0.08
2.88
5.76
13.2
26.4
8.6
8.6
180.2
450
800
1,600
0.31
20
0.22
0.44
0.05
0.1
6.56
13.12
14.6
7.3
13.6
27.2
160
320
245
490
58
Category
moderate
poor
>5
>4
9
18
40
80
1.2
2.4
0.12
0.3
5.6
11.3
0.2
0.4
0.4
1
8
16
50
100
50
100
100
250
50
100
2.6
4.6
25
50
50
100
3.88
7.76
104
208
42.4
84.8
2.68
5.36
0.5
1
200
300
200
100
142.4
1,000
0.16
100
11.52
23.04
52.8
105.6
<2,500
700
1,000
3,200
5,000
40
80
0.88
1.76
0.2
0.4
150
200
150
250
54.4
108.8
1,000
1,500*
1,000
1,500*
bad
<4
>18
>80
>2.4
>0.3
>11.3
>0.4
>1
>16
>100
>100
>250
>100
>4.6
>50
>100
>7.76
>208
>84.8
>5.36
>1
>300
>200
>1,000
>100
>23.04
>105.6
>2,500
>1,000
>5,000
>80
>1.76
>0.4
>200
>250
>108.8
>1,500
>1,500
MetsamorRiverbasin
Qualitycategory/indicator
Category
excellent
good
moderate
poor
>7
>6
>5
>4
3
5
9
18
10
25
40
80
0.080
0.4
1.2
2.4
0.042
0.06
0.12
0.3
1.720
2.5
5.6
11.3
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.4
0.174
0.2
0.4
1
2.271
4
8
16
6.2
7.5
12.5
25
4.0
100
200
500
3.0
23
50
100
2.0
12.0
100
250
4.2
20
50
100
0.01
1.01
2.01
4.01
0.13
10.13
25
50
3.0
13.0
50
100
7
14
28
56
29
58
116
232
27
54
108
216
0.4
0.8
1.6
3.2
0.11
0.22
0.5
1
119.8
100
200
300
76.7
50
100
200
71
142
284
1,000
0.024
0.048
0.096
100
8.31
16.62
33.24
66.48
112.89
225.78
451.56
903.12
50
50
<2,500
623
450
700
1,000
50
100
200
5,000
3.6
20
40
80
1.2
2.4
4.8
9.6
0.08
0.16
0.32
0.64
146.0
292,0
150
200
193.2
386,4
150
250
15.0
30
60
120
1,037
2,074
1,000
1,500
1,595.2
3,190.4
1,000
1,500*
Unitof
measure
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mgN/l
mgN/l
mgN/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
Dissolvedoxygen
BOD5
CODCr
Ammoniumion
Nitriteion
Nitrateion
Orthophosphateion
Totalphosphorus
Totalmineralnitrogen
Suspendedparticles
Zinc,total
g/l
Copper,total
g/l
Chromium,total
g/l
g/l
Arsenium,total
g/l
Cadmium,total
g/l
Lead,total
g/l
Nickel,total
Molybdenum,total
g/l
Manganese,total
g/l
Vanadium,total
g/l
Cobalt,total
g/l
Iron,total
mg/l
Calcium
mg/l
Magnesium
mg/l
Barium
g/l
Beryllium
g/l
Potassium
g/l
Sodium
g/l
Lithium
g/l
Boron
g/l
Aluminum
g/l
Selenium,total
g/l
Antimony,total
g/l
Tin,total
g/l
Chlorideion
mg/l
Sulphateion
mg/l
Silicateion
mgSi/l
Totalmineralization
mg/l
Conductivity
S/cm
59
bad
<4
>18
>80
>2.4
>0.3
>11.3
>0.4
>1
>16
>25
>500
>100
>250
>100
>4.01
>50
>100
>56
>232
>216
>3.2
>1
>300
>200
>1,000
>100
>66.48
>903.12
>2,500
>2,000
>5,000
>80
>9.6
>0.64
>200
>250
>120
>1,500
>1,500
Annex2.AssessmentoftheChemicalStatusofWaterResourcesin
AkhuryanBMA
Monitoringpost#31:AkhuryanRiver,0.5kmupstreamAmasiasettlement
Qualityclass
Qualityparameters
Unit
2011
2012
2013
Dissolvedoxygen
mgO2/L
8.91
6.83
10.48
Sulphateion
mg/L
4.62
4.73
5.24
Chlorideion
mg/L
5.40
4.71
4.35
Nitrateion
mgN/L
0.88
0.50
0.63
Nitriteion
mgN/L
0.02
0.01
0.02
Ammoniumion
mgN/L
0.17
0.12
0.23
Totalinorganicnitrogen
mgN/L
0.83
0.62
0.88
Totalmineralization
mg/L
118.71
135.20
147.94
BOD5
mgO2/L
2.92
3.27
1.85
CODCr
mgO2/L
24.40
19.67
20.67
Conductivity
Sim/cm
141.33
208.00
228.00
Boron
mg/L
0.15
0.17
0.20
Sodium
mg/L
9.01
8.27
11.15
Magnesium
mg/L
7.24
6.23
9.39
Totalphosphorus
mg/L
0.06
0.08
0.04
Potassium
mg/L
1.93
2.90
2.43
Calcium
mg/L
17.54
13.88
22.27
Vanadium,total
mg/L
0.0064
0.0077
0.0066
Chromium,total
mg/L
0.0016
0.0026
0.0015
Iron,total
mg/L
0.4254
0.7147
0.5155
Manganese,total
mg/L
0.0157
0.0348
0.0317
Cobalt,total
mg/L
0.0004
0.0007
0.0005
mg/L
Nickel,total
0.0025
0.0044
0.0029
Copper,total
mg/L
0.0019
0.0024
0.0020
Zinc,total
mg/L
0.0035
0.0049
0.0041
mg/L
Arsenic,total
0.0103
0.0123
0.0121
Selenium,total
mg/L
0.0002
0.0004
0.0003
Molybdenum,total
mg/L
0.0008
0.0006
0.0010
Cadmium,total
mg/L
0.00001
0.00002
0.00001
Tin,total
mg/L
0.00002
0.00002
0.00002
Antimony,total
mg/L
0.0002
0.0001
0.0001
Barium
mg/L
0.0223
0.0258
0.0255
Lead,total
mg/L
0.0005
0.0006
0.0005
Monitoringpost#32:AkhuryanRiver,1kmdownstreamAmasiasettlement
Qualityclass
Qualityparameters
Unit
2011
2012
2013
Dissolvedoxygen
mgO2/L
8.68
7.21
9.66
Sulphateion
mg/L
4.65
4.97
6.31
Chlorideion
mg/L
4.36
5.04
5.02
Nitrateion
mgN/L
0.69
0.48
0.85
Nitriteion
mgN/L
0.01
0.01
0.02
Ammoniumion
mgN/L
0.20
0.19
0.36
mgN/L
0.60
0.68
1.24
Totalmineralization
mg/L
120.26
139.32
164.14
BOD5
mgO2/L
3.20
2.93
3.01
CODCr
mgO2/L
14.00
18.00
20.29
60
Qualityclass
2012
214.3
0.17
8.82
6.60
0.09
1.74
15.21
0.007
0.002
0.678
0.036
0.0008
0.004
0.003
0.006
0.013
0.001
0.001
0.0000
0.0000
0.0001
0.025
0.001
2013
252.6
0.22
10.94
10.57
0.13
2.82
25.33
0.007
0.001
0.479
0.032
0.0005
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.013
0.001
0.001
0.0000
0.0000
0.0001
0.025
0.000
Monitoringpost#33:AkhuryanRiver,0.8kmupstreamGyumricity
Qualityclass
Qualityparameters
Unit
2011
2012
Dissolvedoxygen
mgO2/L
8.42
7.36
Sulphateion
mg/L
15.19
14.81
Chlorideion
mg/L
6.54
5.84
Nitrateion
mgN/L
1.64
1.32
Nitriteion
mgN/L
0.01
0.01
Ammoniumion
mgN/L
0.16
0.11
mgN/L
1.49
1.44
Totalmineralization
mg/L
175.28
199.12
BOD5
mgO2/L
3.09
3.18
CODCr
mgO2/L
14.00
17.67
Conductivity
Sim/cm
219.00
306.3
Boron
mg/L
0.12
0.14
Sodium
mg/L
15.61
12.29
Magnesium
mg/L
7.98
7.67
Totalphosphorus
mg/L
0.06
0.08
Potassium
mg/L
1.93
4.39
Calcium
mg/L
24.77
20.94
Vanadium,total
mg/L
0.007
0.010
Chromium,total
mg/L
0.001
0.003
Iron,total
mg/L
0.439
1.351
Manganese,total
mg/L
0.023
0.034
Cobalt,total
mg/L
0.0004
0.0007
Nickel,total
mg/L
0.003
0.005
Copper,total
mg/L
0.002
0.004
Zinc,total
mg/L
0.004
0.005
2013
10.14
15.42
6.08
1.46
0.02
0.27
1.75
204.77
3.24
21.71
315.00
0.18
16.26
11.33
0.07
2.44
31.50
0.009
0.002
0.740
0.032
0.0007
0.003
0.003
0.002
Qualityparameters
Conductivity
Boron
Sodium
Magnesium
Totalphosphorus
Potassium
Calcium
Vanadium,total
Chromium,total
Iron,total
Manganese,total
Cobalt,total
Nickel,total
Copper,total
Zinc,total
Arsenic,total
Selenium,total
Molybdenum,total
Cadmium,total
Tin,total
Antimony,total
Barium
Lead,total
Unit
Sim/cm
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
2011
142.0
0.13
8.95
6.72
0.10
2.30
17.42
0.006
0.002
0.489
0.019
0.0004
0.003
0.003
0.006
0.009
0.001
0.001
0.0000
0.0000
0.0002
0.026
0.001
61
Qualityparameters
Arsenic,total
Selenium,total
Molybdenum,total
Cadmium,total
Tin,total
Antimony,total
Barium
Lead,total
Unit
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
2011
0.007
0.001
0.002
0.00001
0.00002
0.0002
0.020
0.0004
Qualityclass
2012
0.010
0.001
0.002
0.00001
0.00002
0.0001
0.027
0.0008
2013
0.009
0.001
0.002
0.00002
0.00004
0.0002
0.021
0.0004
Monitoringpost#34:AkhuryanRiver,5kmdownstreamGyumricity
Qualityclass
Unit
Qualityparameters
2011
2012
Dissolvedoxygen
mgO2/L
7.80
6.75
Sulphateion
mg/L
31.30
34.79
Chlorideion
mg/L
11.13
12.07
Nitrateion
mgN/L
2.60
1.63
Nitriteion
mgN/L
0.14
0.14
Ammoniumion
mgN/L
2.28
1.43
mgN/L
4.34
3.21
Totalmineralization
mg/L
238.98
262.82
BOD5
mgO2/L
2.83
3.55
CODCr
mgO2/L
18.33
10.67
Conductivity
Sim/cm
299.25
404.33
mg/L
Boron
0.15
0.16
mg/L
Sodium
26.10
15.03
mg/L
Magnesium
9.29
9.14
mg/L
Totalphosphorus
0.17
0.17
mg/L
Potassium
2.55
5.57
mg/L
Calcium
27.56
25.07
mg/L
Vanadium,total
0.009
0.010
mg/L
Chromium,total
0.001
0.003
mg/L
Iron,total
0.613
1.118
mg/L
Manganese,total
0.035
0.046
mg/L
Cobalt,total
0.0007
0.0011
mg/L
Nickel,total
0.004
0.005
mg/L
Copper,total
0.004
0.005
mg/L
Zinc,total
0.006
0.011
mg/L
Arsenic,total
0.007
0.009
mg/L
Selenium,total
0.001
0.001
mg/L
Molybdenum,total
0.002
0.002
mg/L
Cadmium,total
0.00002
0.00003
mg/L
Tin,total
0.00004
0.00005
mg/L
Antimony,total
0.00038
0.00019
mg/L
Barium
0.023
0.033
mg/L
Lead,total
0.0007
0.0010
62
2013
9.44
29.20
9.40
2.34
0.40
2.08
4.81
259.52
3.20
21.43
399.14
0.20
22.67
12.12
0.19
3.27
34.78
0.009
0.001
0.358
0.036
0.0005
0.003
0.002
0.003
0.008
0.001
0.002
0.00002
0.00002
0.00028
0.019
0.0004
Monitoringpost#35:AkhuryanRiver,nearYervandashatsettlement
Qualityclass
Unit
Qualityparameters
2011
2012
Dissolvedoxygen
mgO2/L
8.13
6.30
Sulphateion
mg/L
25.12
25.30
Chlorideion
mg/L
16.06
15.33
Nitrateion
mgN/L
1.08
1.33
Nitriteion
mgN/L
0.03
0.02
Ammoniumion
mgN/L
0.24
0.16
mgN/L
0.85
1.51
Totalmineralization
mg/L
219.06
186.67
BOD5
mgO2/L
1.96
1.91
CODCr
mgO2/L
24.25
18.00
Conductivity
Sim/cm
389.50
427.40
Boron
mg/L
0.19
0.22
Sodium
mg/L
24.09
20.11
Magnesium
mg/L
11.56
10.97
Totalphosphorus
mg/L
0.11
0.13
Potassium
mg/L
3.31
3.91
Calcium
mg/L
31.19
29.23
Vanadium,total
mg/L
0.0086
0.0101
Chromium,total
mg/L
0.0030
0.0086
Iron,total
mg/L
0.2365
0.4502
Manganese,total
mg/L
0.0280
0.0248
Cobalt,total
mg/L
0.0004
0.0008
Nickel,total
mg/L
0.0040
0.0081
Copper,total
mg/L
0.0023
0.0029
Zinc,total
mg/L
0.0021
0.0020
Arsenic,total
mg/L
0.0091
0.0124
Selenium,total
mg/L
0.0009
0.0026
Molybdenum,total
mg/L
0.0018
0.0020
Cadmium,total
mg/L
0.00001
0.00002
Tin,total
mg/L
0.00004
0.00001
Antimony,total
mg/L
0.00034
0.00016
Barium
mg/L
0.0280
0.0394
Lead,total
mg/L
0.0004
0.0004
2013
7.43
24.05
13.60
1.33
0.02
0.33
1.68
282.33
1.78
17.00
392.38
0.20
20.91
12.30
0.14
4.31
34.99
0.0105
0.0062
0.2639
0.0274
0.0004
0.0028
0.0018
0.0014
0.0124
0.0012
0.0020
0.00002
0.00002
0.00036
0.0341
0.0004
Monitoringpost#36:AshotskRiver,0.5kmupstreamArtashensettlement
Qualityclass
Qualityparameters
Unit
2011
2012
2013
Dissolvedoxygen
mgO2/L
9.72
7.95
11.93
Sulphateion
mg/L
3.80
4.34
4.52
Chlorideion
mg/L
0.79
1.50
1.20
Nitrateion
mgN/L
0.35
0.29
0.38
Nitriteion
mgN/L
0.00
0.00
0.00
Ammoniumion
mgN/L
0.08
0.13
0.13
mgN/L
0.35
0.42
0.51
Totalmineralization
mg/L
110.30
135.39
226.01
BOD5
mgO2/L
2.76
2.23
2.50
CODCr
mgO2/L
9.67
16.86
12.00
63
Qualityparameters
Conductivity
Boron
Sodium
Magnesium
Totalphosphorus
Potassium
Calcium
Vanadium,total
Chromium,total
Iron,total
Manganese,total
Cobalt,total
Nickel,total
Copper,total
Zinc,total
Arsenic,total
Selenium,total
Molybdenum,total
Cadmium,total
Tin,total
Antimony,total
Barium
Lead,total
Unit
Sim/cm
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
2011
123.00
0.01
2.14
2.88
0.03
0.58
27.74
0.0005
0.0005
0.0854
0.0054
0.0001
0.0008
0.0016
0.0024
0.0004
0.0006
0.0002
0.00001
0.00003
0.00009
0.0210
0.0003
Qualityclass
2012
208.29
0.01
1.89
2.69
0.04
3.67
25.12
0.0005
0.0027
0.0936
0.0064
0.0003
0.0026
0.0025
0.0032
0.0006
0.0007
0.0003
0.00001
0.00001
0.00005
0.0224
0.0001
2013
348.60
0.01
2.92
4.75
0.02
0.84
35.46
0.0004
0.0005
0.0703
0.0038
0.0001
0.0006
0.0011
0.0010
0.0005
0.0011
0.0003
0.00000
0.00001
0.00006
0.0208
0.0001
2011
Qualityclass
2012
2013
Monitoringpost#37:AshotskRivermouth
Qualityparameters
Dissolvedoxygen
Sulphateion
Chlorideion
Nitrateion
Nitriteion
Ammoniumion
Totalmineralization
BOD5
CODCr
Conductivity
Boron
Sodium
Magnesium
Totalphosphorus
Potassium
Calcium
Vanadium,total
Chromium,total
Iron,total
Unit
mgO2/L
mg/L
mg/L
mgN/L
mgN/L
mgN/L
mgN/L
mg/L
mgO2/L
mgO2/L
Sim/cm
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
11.01
4.17
8.29
0.97
0.02
0.13
0.86
132.42
3.38
13.00
124.67
0.30
10.89
7.11
0.07
2.34
16.83
0.0054
0.0007
0.1797
64
10.20
4.93
10.91
0.89
0.01
0.23
1.14
172.25
3.28
15.00
265.00
0.37
11.80
8.36
0.10
5.66
14.84
0.0062
0.0031
0.2115
10.81
5.42
7.02
0.86
0.02
0.22
1.09
160.67
2.45
19.33
247.00
0.35
12.86
10.13
0.08
2.83
24.18
0.0055
0.0006
0.1772
Qualityparameters
Manganese,total
Cobalt,total
Nickel,total
Copper,total
Zinc,total
Arsenic,total
Selenium,total
Molybdenum,total
Cadmium,total
Tin,total
Antimony,total
Barium
Lead,total
Unit
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
Qualityclass
2012
2011
0.0144
0.0002
0.0013
0.0022
0.0051
0.0200
0.0007
0.0004
0.00001
0.00002
0.00013
0.0168
0.0006
0.0255
0.0003
0.0036
0.0017
0.0022
0.028
0.0009
0.0006
0.00001
0.00002
0.00004
0.0152
0.0003
2013
0.0230
0.0002
0.0012
0.0009
0.0020
0.0262
0.0003
0.0010
0.00001
0.00002
0.00009
0.0164
0.0001
Monitoringpost#38:KarkachunRivermouth
Qualityparameters
Dissolvedoxygen
Sulphateion
Chlorideion
Nitrateion
Nitriteion
Ammoniumion
Totalmineralization
BOD5
CODCr
Conductivity
Boron
Sodium
Magnesium
Totalphosphorus
Potassium
Calcium
Vanadium,total
Chromium,total
Iron,total
Manganese,total
Cobalt,total
Nickel,total
Copper,total
Zinc,total
Arsenic,total
Selenium,total
Molybdenum,total
Cadmium,total
Tin,total
Antimony,total
Barium
Lead,total
Unit
mgO2/L
mg/L
mg/L
mgN/L
mgN/L
mgN/L
mgN/L
mg/L
mgO2/L
mgO2/L
Sim/cm
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
2011
8.24
126.75
15.99
3.98
0.26
0.81
3.75
459.18
2.57
13.33
681.75
0.28
57.77
12.02
0.17
4.18
48.88
0.013
0.001
0.196
0.032
0.0004
0.003
0.003
0.004
0.004
0.001
0.004
0.00002
0.00002
0.00040
0.035
0.0005
65
Qualityclass
2012
4.44
171.42
19.94
2.73
0.44
1.15
4.33
582.29
8.35
35.00
895.83
0.39
74.52
15.44
0.36
5.58
47.96
0.015
0.006
0.222
0.090
0.0009
0.007
0.002
0.005
0.005
0.002
0.004
0.00002
0.00002
0.00020
0.038
0.0003
2013
7.99
185.66
20.14
3.92
0.49
1.62
6.03
543.96
4.79
36.00
836.86
0.51
84.34
22.11
0.33
5.96
78.96
0.017
0.001
0.288
0.068
0.0006
0.003
0.002
0.003
0.005
0.002
0.00002
0.00002
0.00039
0.036
0.0003
Monitoringpost#40:MetsamorRiver,10kmsouthofEchmiadzintown
Qualityclass
Qualityparameters
Unit
2011
2012
2013
Dissolvedoxygen
mgO2/L
7.93
6.10
8.51
Sulphateion
mg/L
225.09
293.23
237.47
Chlorideion
mg/L
106.56
135.37
112.26
Nitrateion
mgN/L
3.34
2.92
2.09
Nitriteion
mgN/L
0.06
0.07
0.07
Ammoniumion
mgN/L
0.74
0.36
0.50
mgN/L
3.83
3.35
3.79
Totalmineralization
mg/L
732.35
942.03
748.23
BOD5
mgO2/L
2.98
2.58
2.93
CODCr
mgO2/L
22.22
40.00
37.33
Conductivity
Sim/cm
874.86
1349.13
1247.00
Boron
mg/L
0.35
0.39
0.43
Sodium
mg/L
63.22
60.41
59.46
Magnesium
mg/L
33.87
36.44
47.84
Totalphosphorus
mg/L
0.15
0.09
0.19
Potassium
mg/L
5.35
6.75
7.43
Calcium
mg/L
66.14
80.46
96.81
Vanadium,total
mg/L
0.014
0.014
0.015
Chromium,total
mg/L
0.005
0.006
0.004
Iron,total
mg/L
0.182
0.073
0.095
Manganese,total
mg/L
0.040
0.060
0.056
Cobalt,total
mg/L
0.0005
0.0006
0.0004
Nickel,total
mg/L
0.003
0.004
0.003
Copper,total
mg/L
0.003
0.002
0.010
Zinc,total
mg/L
0.008
0.011
0.012
Arsenic,total
mg/L
0.009
0.012
0.014
Selenium,total
mg/L
0.003
0.005
0.004
Molybdenum,total
mg/L
0.003
0.009
0.006
Cadmium,total
mg/L
0.00002
0.00003
0.00001
Tin,total
mg/L
0.00002
0.00001
0.00007
Antimony,total
mg/L
0.00024
0.00010
0.00021
Barium
mg/L
0.049
0.079
0.078
Lead,total
mg/L
0.0003
0.0001
0.0004
Monitoringpost#41:MetsamorRiver,11kmsoutheastofEchmiadzintown
Qualityclass
Unit
Qualityparameters
2011
2012
2013
Dissolvedoxygen
mgO2/L
7.31
5.74
7.02
Sulphateion
mg/L
201.41
207.43
191.84
Chlorideion
mg/L
96.41
98.96
92.84
Nitrateion
mgN/L
2.94
2.07
2.04
Nitriteion
mgN/L
0.11
0.16
0.15
Ammoniumion
mgN/L
0.42
0.69
1.64
mgN/L
3.19
2.92
3.82
Totalmineralization
mg/L
692.41
770.87
727.83
BOD5
mgO2/L
3.01
2.91
3.18
CODCr
mgO2/L
27.78
36.50
33.27
Conductivity
Sim/cm
798.71
1111.37
1120.09
66
Qualityparameters
Boron
Sodium
Magnesium
Totalphosphorus
Potassium
Calcium
Vanadium,total
Chromium,total
Iron,total
Manganese,total
Cobalt,total
Nickel,total
Copper,total
Zinc,total
Arsenic,total
Selenium,total
Molybdenum,total
Cadmium,total
Tin,total
Antimony,total
Barium
Lead,total
Unit
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
2011
0.32
55.51
31.43
0.12
4.70
60.51
0.013
0.005
0.244
0.047
0.0005
0.003
0.002
0.005
0.009
0.002
0.003
0.00002
0.00001
0.00026
0.048
0.0003
Qualityclass
2012
0.32
36.02
33.02
0.11
6.02
58.55
0.011
0.010
0.106
0.060
0.0005
0.005
0.002
0.006
0.011
0.006
0.008
0.00003
0.00003
0.00009
0.067
0.0001
2013
0.48
50.96
44.85
0.25
6.96
83.03
0.014
0.003
0.087
0.059
0.0003
0.002
0.002
0.006
0.015
0.004
0.006
0.00002
0.00002
0.00021
0.074
0.0001
Monitoringpost#42:MetsamorRiver,0.5downstreamofRanchparsettlement
Qualityclass
Unit
Qualityparameters
2011
2012
2013
Dissolvedoxygen
mgO2/L
7.81
6.81
8.52
Sulphateion
mg/L
173.29
179.10
175.53
Chlorideion
mg/L
112.84
137.13
143.43
Nitrateion
mgN/L
2.34
1.77
1.72
Nitriteion
mgN/L
0.07
0.07
0.07
Ammoniumion
mgN/L
0.26
0.38
0.40
mgN/L
2.45
2.23
3.04
Totalmineralization
mg/L
703.19
866.89
841.25
Phosphateion
mg/L
0.24
0.21
0.27
BOD5
mgO2/L
2.97
2.89
2.90
CODCr
mgO2/L
27.33
44.75
44.36
Conductivity
Sim/cm
877.43
1248.00
1294.09
Boron
mg/L
0.36
0.39
0.60
Sodium
mg/L
63.20
58.98
81.70
Magnesium
mg/L
32.32
36.69
55.32
Totalphosphorus
mg/L
0.11
0.08
0.22
Potassium
mg/L
4.67
6.17
6.97
Calcium
mg/L
56.04
56.03
83.47
Vanadium,total
mg/L
0.012
0.012
0.013
Chromium,total
mg/L
0.005
0.006
0.004
Iron,total
mg/L
0.122
0.205
0.096
Manganese,total
mg/L
0.035
0.045
0.045
Cobalt,total
mg/L
0.0003
0.0007
0.0003
Nickel,total
mg/L
0.003
0.003
0.003
Copper,total
mg/L
0.002
0.003
0.002
67
Qualityparameters
Zinc,total
Arsenic,total
Selenium,total
Molybdenum,total
Cadmium,total
Tin,total
Antimony,total
Barium
Lead,total
Unit
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
2011
0.004
0.013
0.002
0.003
0.00002
0.00001
0.00009
0.050
0.0002
Qualityclass
2012
0.010
0.016
0.005
0.011
0.00006
0.00008
0.00010
0.074
0.0002
2013
0.006
0.019
0.004
0.006
0.00002
0.00003
0.00016
0.082
0.0001
high
good
moderate
poor
68
bad
Annex3.RapidBiologicalAssessmentDeterminationScheme

HighStatus(90100%)withreferenceconditionsassignedif:
[1] Group A at least common: typically with either 34 or more taxa such as Heptageniidae
species,Ephemerasp.,Plecoptera,etc.;
[2] GroupBrangingfromfew/absenttoplentiful;
[3] GroupCisusuallycommonorless,butsometaxamaybeoccasionallydominant.e.g.Baetis,
Gammaridae,Hydropsyche,etc.;
[4] GroupsDandEscarce(few)orabsent;
[5] Macrophytes,ifpresent,diverseandnotexcessiveindevelopment;
[6] Filamentousalgae(Cladophora,etc.)ifpresentnotexcessive;
[7] Sphaerotiluscomplexes(filamentousbacteria)andotherslimegrowths/complexesabsent;
[8] Substratacleanandunsilted;
[9] DOcloseto100%atalltimes.
HighStatus(8085%)closetoreferenceconditionsassignedif:
[1] AtleastoneGroupAtaxonpresentin,atleast6individualsinthesample.Usually13taxaof
GroupA;
[2] Group B taxa may be plentiful, common, few or absent. Rarely Group B taxa may be
dominant(slowvelocity,macrophyterivertypes,etc.);
[3] Baetis, Gammaridae, Hydropsyche often dominant but never over 300+ individuals. Other
GroupCtaxaneverexcessive;
[4] GroupDandEmaybepresentinsmallnumbers(few)orabsents;
[5] Macrophyte&algalgrowthsnotexcessive;
[6] Cladophora,ifpresent,notexcessive;
[7] Sphaerotiluscomplexes(filamentousbacteria)andotherslimegrowths/complexesabsent;
[8] Substratamaybelightlysilted
[9] DOrangingtypicallyfrom80to120%.
GoodStatus(7080%GEor6075%Prut/Dnieper)assignedif:
[1] AtleastoneGroupAtaxonpresentin,atleastfewindividualsinthesample(morethan2
individuals);
[2] Group B taxa may be plentiful, common, few or absent. Often Group B taxa may be
dominant(slowvelocity,macrophyterivertypes,etc.);
[3] GroupCplentiful,dominantorevenexcessive/superdominant(over300+individuals);
[4] Group D common, present, few or absents. Some Chironomidae Gen sp. or specific
Molluscaspeciesmaybeplentifulordominant;
[5] GroupEalwaysfeworabsent;
[6] Macrophyte&algalgrowthsusuallyluxuriant,oftenexcessive;
[7] Cladophora,usuallywelldeveloped;
[8] Sphaerotilus complexes (filamentous bacteria) and other slime growths/complexes
sometimespresentinsmallamounts;
[9] Substratamaybeconsiderablysilted(especiallyinslowvelocity);
[10] DOrangingtypicallyfrom<80to>120%.
69
ModerateStatus(5065%GEor4055%Prutor4555%Dnieper)assignedif:
[1] GroupAtaxonabsent;
[2] GroupBpresent,feworabsent(rarelyplentiful);
[3] Group C usually excessive/superdominant (over 300+ individuals). (Some Gammaridae,
Hydropsyche,etc.maybefungusinfested);
[4] Group D (excl. Asellus aquaticus <21 ind.) common, present, few or absents. Some
ChironomidaeGensp.orspecificMolluscaspeciesmaybeplentifulordominant;
[5] GroupEfeworabsent;
[6] Macrophytes,ifpresentoftensiltedand/orinfestedwithepiphyticalgae;
[7] Cladophora,usuallyexcessive;
sometimesmaybeconsiderable;
[9] Substratamaybeheavilysilted;
[10] DOrangingtypicallyfrom<80to>120%.
PoorStatus(3045%GEor2535%Prutor2540%Dnieper)assignedif:
[1] GroupsAandBabsent;
[2] GroupCpresent,feworabsent;
[3] Asellus aquaticus common to excessive. Other Group D taxa may be common, plentiful,
dominantorexcessive.;
[4] GroupEmaybecommon;
[5] Macrophytes,ifpresentoftensiltedand/orinfestedwithepiphyticalgae,phycomycetesor
filamentousbacteria(Sphaerotilusnatans);
[6] Cladophora,notusuallyapparent;
sometimesusuallyconsiderable;
[8] Substratausuallyheavilysilted.Oftenhighturbidityandsmellsofsewage/detergent;
[9] DOusuallyquitelow(2050%).
BadStatus(<30%GEor<25%Prut/Dnieper)assignedif:
[1] GroupsA,BandCabsent;
[2] GroupDpresent,feworabsent(rarelyplentifulChironomidaeGen.sp.;OligochaetaFem.
sp.exceptTubificidae);
[3] GroupEplentifulordominant;
[4] Macrophytesabsent;
[5] Cladophoraabsent;
[6] Sphaerotiluscomplexes(filamentousbacteria)andotherslimegrowths/complexespresent
(organicload)orabsent(toxicwaters);
[7] Substratausuallyheavilysiltedwithanaerobicdeposits.OftensmellsofH2S;
[8] DOusuallyverylow,sometimeszero.
70

River Basin Management Plan For Akhuryan Basin Management Area (Akhuryan and Metsamor River Basins)

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EnvironmentalProtectionof

Source:National Statistical Service of theRepublicof Armenia, 2014;AnalyticalInformation Center of theEconomic

2.2. Fish farming

Currentlythereare8 small HPPsoperatinginAkhuryanriverbasin,withtotalinstalledcapacityof

2.4. Water abstraction and services

Asof January2014,theannual water useforfisherypurposesinAkhuryanBMAexceeds65,188.8

2.7. Solid waste landfills

2.9. Future infrastructure development

3.1. Point source pollution

Thevolumeof all industrial flowsinMetsamor Riverbasinmakes 0.015m3/sec.in total.Theyare

As the classification is based on natural background concentrations of metals, it allows assessing

Pollution loads of sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, bromine, manganese, strontium,

As the classification is based on natural background concentrations of metals, it allows assessing

3.2. Diffuse sources of pollution

According to standards currently applied in Armenia, 0.5 ha of pasture is required as sufficient

3.3. Hydromorphological alterations

4.1 Approach used to assess the impacts of the pressures

4.2. Assessment of biological status

4.3. Assessment of chemical status

4.4. Assessment of hydromorphological status

5.1. Identified significant water management issues in Akhuryan BMA

inorganic origin flow into the river, together with rainwater.

downstream Gyumri and Karkachun River. As a result, the

these sites contain high concentrations of arsenic, titanium,

About 11 km long stretch of the Akhuryan River (from

also a potential factor of water pollution and, judging from

5.2. Major data gaps in Akhuryan BMA

5.3. Proposal for the second Joint Field Survey

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