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Nature’s Reward Reaches Armenian Homes                                                                   June 10, 2009
June 11, 2009 - Geography has generously bestowed Armenia with rich, sweet water
resources flowing from high altitude mountain springs. However, the spring water − the object
of Armenian pride – does not always does reach the country’s inhabitants in good quality and
sufficient quantity.

                                       Armenia’s municipal water and wastewater systems had been
                                       left unattended for decades, and were in a dilapidated state,
                                       causing disruptions in service and health problems. Owing to
                                       the Municipal Water and Wastewater Project sponsored by
                                       the World Bank, thousands of Armenians who had
                                       experienced the effects of the poor quality water supply first-
                                       hand are now relieved. Under the Project, two water
                                       treatment plants, six pumping stations, 20 reservoirs, and 83
                                       km of network are being rehabilitated, constructed, or rebuilt
Municipal Water and Wastewater
Project, sponsored by the World        all around the country. Overall, the utility’s service area
Bank has had huge implications on      includes 37 cities and 269 rural settlements. So far, the
the quality of life in the town, and   Project improved water supply services in 19 towns with
especially on health risks.            350,000 residents.
Multimedia
                                       “Before the reconstruction of the Dilijan treatment plants, all
  Video: Nature’s Reward
                                       the structures were mostly broken. The clarification tanks,
  Reaches Armenian Homes
                                       technological pipes, and valves were leaking, and the reagent
                                       technology was not operating,” explained an engineer working
Related Links                          at the plant. “As a result, the quality of the water supplied
                                       was below the required norms, especially during snow melts
  Press Release: World Bank            and rainy periods.”
  Launches New Partnership
  Strategy With Armenia
                                       Now the water treatment plant in the town of Dilijan has been
  Press Release:  Armenian
                                       restored. Since then, the plant operates 24 hours a day,
  Report: Country Partnership          providing more than 16,000 residents with high quality
  Strategy                             drinking water. “We have special laboratories that are
                                       examining the quantity of chlorine, aluminum, and bacteria in
  Project Story: Armenia’s             the water on an hourly basis,” said Vartan Mnatsakanyan,
  Health Care is Modernizing           Head of Water Distribution.  “This has had huge implications
                                       on the quality of life in the town, and especially on health
  Project Story: When The
                                       risks.”
  Heating Is No Longer an Issue

  In Depth
  : www.worldbank.org.am               In the past, turbid water from the tap was the norm rather
                                       than the exception, especially after heavy seasonal
                                       precipitation, when the water supply was usually cut. Now,
                                       despite turbid water entering the treatment plant, the new
                                       technology ensures good water quality.
                                       Another town that has benefited is Charentsavan. Its 25
                                       thousand residents now have access to quality running water
                                       in their homes most of the day. The new pumping equipment
                                       and renovations have dramatically increased the water
                                       supply. Certainly, the people of Charentsavan are satisfied
 The water treatment plant in the
                                       with the measurable results and appreciate the investments.
 town of Dilijan has been restored.

                                       Hakob, an unemployed electrical engineer , along with his
                                       wife and daughter-in-law were one of the first to benefit from
                                       the renewed water system. “In the past we had water only a
                                       few hours a day, while now we get it almost the whole day,”
                                       said Hakob. “Also, the quality of the water was often very
                                       bad. Now we are able to enjoy the high quality water that
                                       nature has endowed us with,” he adds proudly.
 Hakob and his wife are glad that
 they can enjoy the water all day  As part of the project, Armenia is also training hundreds of
 now.
                                   the country’s water system employees in the latest methods
                                   of distributing water and chlorine. “The training has helped
very much because we are getting information according to international standards, and we are
trying to apply this technology at our work stations,” said Armine Babertsyan, a trainee.