The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced today the launch of the Advanced Science and Partnerships for Integrated Resource Development Project.

U.S. Embassy noted that this 3-year program is designed to curb the rate of groundwater abstraction in the Ararat Valley to sustainable levels.

USAID recently financed an assessment of the groundwater resources status in the Ararat Valley, which indicated an alarming situation in the groundwater supply decrease. The decreasing level of the groundwater supply and the uncontrolled use of artesian water by fish farms has left some 30 communities in the Ararat and Armavir marzes without reliable access to drinking or irrigation water.

The water shortage poses a threat to the country’s agricultural sector, the socio-economic and environmental well-being of the mentioned regions, as well as the safety of Armenia’s sole nuclear power plant, Metsamor.

The project will resolve issues in renewal of existing data, improvement of decision-making tools, reinforcement of professional capabilities of appropriate equipment, implementation of efficient water and energy use technologies, as well as obliteration of gaps in enforcement mechanisms.

Among other works, the project will include inventory of the wells and springs in the Ararat Artesian Basin, creation of a publicly accessible data system for the valley residents, installment of an automated control system for monitoring groundwater abstraction in 10 selected fisheries, and implementation of innovative technologies for efficient groundwater and energy use.

Offers on fees for underground water use by fisheries, as well as stricter water permit practices and oversight will be provided to the Armenian government.