Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stated that the situation regarding drinking and irrigation water in the country has reached a critical level.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Pashinyan made these remarks while speaking at a seminar titled "Water Sector Reforms 2026–2031" held in the city of Dilijan.
During his address, the Prime Minister acknowledged that there is no longer a single settlement in Armenia that does not face serious issues with water supply. He noted that only a small fraction of agricultural lands and orchards currently possess adequate irrigation capabilities.
Pashinyan emphasized that the existing irrigation systems fail to meet modern standards. According to him, the volume of water currently used to irrigate a few hectares could be sufficient for dozens of hectares if more efficient technologies were implemented. The Prime Minister further noted that thousands of hectares of arable land remain unused in the country, with water scarcity acting as a significant barrier to the development of modern agriculture.
Furthermore, Pashinyan criticized the current state of wastewater treatment. He stated that water purification in Armenia is an exception rather than the rule, warning that this failure leads to serious environmental consequences. The head of government stressed the urgent necessity of developing new strategies for the collection and efficient management of water resources.
Armenia has historically struggled with water management due to aging Soviet-era infrastructure and climate change, which has increasingly impacted regional water levels. The government's proposed reforms aim to modernize these systems to prevent further agricultural decline and environmental degradation.
