Armenia needs to develop a roadmap for water sector reforms: Prime Minister
04.09.2026,
18:18
Armenia needs to develop a roadmap for water sector reforms, stated Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
YEREVAN, September 4. /ARKA/. Armenia needs to develop a roadmap for water sector reforms, stated Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
"It should be noted that today there is not a single settlement in Armenia that does not have significant and tangible problems related to drinking and irrigation water," Pashinyan noted, speaking at a working forum in Dilijan on the topic of "Water Sector Reforms 2026-2031."
The Prime Minister emphasized that today only a small portion of arable land, orchards, and plantings in Armenia has access to irrigation. He added that most arable land has no access to irrigation water at all, and in those areas where it is available, irrigation technology and quality require special attention.
"By 21st-century standards, the amount of water needed to irrigate orchards covering tens of hectares is used to irrigate orchards covering only a few hectares. This is the next most important part of the problem," Pashinyan said.
Armenia needs a roadmap for water sector reform. The next problem, according to the prime minister, is the thousands of hectares of idle land that could be used for orchards and yield tens of thousands of tons of crops.
"The next global challenge we face is that wastewater treatment is not the rule, but rather the exception. It is also clear that this level of water use is in no way acceptable, as it clearly entails consequences," Pashinyan noted.
According to the prime minister, another important finding is that the country is producing more water resources than necessary.
"One of the key objectives of today's discussion is how and by what roadmap can we, from the point set today, reach a state where water is available in all areas of Armenia where its availability is:
a) essential—this applies to populated areas and ensuring full, 24-hour access to drinking water;
b) necessary for irrigation in all populated areas—this is a crucial component of organizing urban and populated areas;
c) can create added value.
Two global challenges and objectives arise from this, both of which are directly or indirectly enshrined in the government's program or in the doctrine of Armenia's economic and institutional transformation," Pashinyan said.
According to him, Armenia must strive for a level at which no amount of used water is discharged into nature without treatment.
The next set of problems—the numerous environmental and healthcare challenges facing the country today—are, according to the prime minister, linked precisely to this phenomenon. He reiterated that the treatment of used water in Armenia is not the rule, but rather the exception. "The third global issue we must discuss is how to accumulate the water resources accumulating in Armenia, what is the most efficient way to accumulate them, and how to ultimately use them for irrigation and other purposes," Pashinyan said.
He emphasized that in the 21st century, any movement of water is sought to be utilized, including for energy purposes, as water also has significant energy potential.
"It should be noted that today there is not a single settlement in Armenia that does not have significant and tangible problems related to drinking and irrigation water," Pashinyan noted, speaking at a working forum in Dilijan on the topic of "Water Sector Reforms 2026-2031."
The Prime Minister emphasized that today only a small portion of arable land, orchards, and plantings in Armenia has access to irrigation. He added that most arable land has no access to irrigation water at all, and in those areas where it is available, irrigation technology and quality require special attention.
"By 21st-century standards, the amount of water needed to irrigate orchards covering tens of hectares is used to irrigate orchards covering only a few hectares. This is the next most important part of the problem," Pashinyan said.
Armenia needs a roadmap for water sector reform. The next problem, according to the prime minister, is the thousands of hectares of idle land that could be used for orchards and yield tens of thousands of tons of crops.
"The next global challenge we face is that wastewater treatment is not the rule, but rather the exception. It is also clear that this level of water use is in no way acceptable, as it clearly entails consequences," Pashinyan noted.
According to the prime minister, another important finding is that the country is producing more water resources than necessary.
"One of the key objectives of today's discussion is how and by what roadmap can we, from the point set today, reach a state where water is available in all areas of Armenia where its availability is:
a) essential—this applies to populated areas and ensuring full, 24-hour access to drinking water;
b) necessary for irrigation in all populated areas—this is a crucial component of organizing urban and populated areas;
c) can create added value.
Two global challenges and objectives arise from this, both of which are directly or indirectly enshrined in the government's program or in the doctrine of Armenia's economic and institutional transformation," Pashinyan said.
According to him, Armenia must strive for a level at which no amount of used water is discharged into nature without treatment.
The next set of problems—the numerous environmental and healthcare challenges facing the country today—are, according to the prime minister, linked precisely to this phenomenon. He reiterated that the treatment of used water in Armenia is not the rule, but rather the exception. "The third global issue we must discuss is how to accumulate the water resources accumulating in Armenia, what is the most efficient way to accumulate them, and how to ultimately use them for irrigation and other purposes," Pashinyan said.
He emphasized that in the 21st century, any movement of water is sought to be utilized, including for energy purposes, as water also has significant energy potential.
