Press Release

Contact: Mr. Simon Sargsyan
ssargsyan@usaid.gov
U.S. Agency for International Development
1 American Avenue
375082 Yerevan, Armenia
Telephone: (37410) 464-290

USAID Marks Commencement of Artashat Water Supply Project

Artashat, Armenia – On June 20, representatives from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Government of Armenia, Fund for Armenian Relief and Armenian Water Company gathered to mark the commencement of the Artashat water supply project.

The Government of Armenia and Armenia Water Company are rehabilitating seventeen water supply systems around the country. However, due to limited funds Artashat was not included on the list. The State Water Committee requested USAID/Armenia´s assistance for rehabilitating the water supply system of Artashat area.

When completed, the project will provide a continuous supply of safe drinking water to residents in the target area of Artashat town and the 27 designated villages in the surrounding area (approximately 100,000 people). Also, by increasing the volume of water delivered by gravity flow, the project will reduce energy consumption by eliminating the need to pump water from the deeps wells around Artashat.

The total value of this two-year project is $3.16 million and the work is currently USAID/Armenia´s largest capital investment project. Project activities include replacing 35 kilometers of pipes, the construction of one new reservoir and rehabilitation of two existing reservoirs.

In her opening remarks at the ceremony, USAID Deputy Mission Director Cynthia Pruett stated: "By rehabilitating the water mains in the target area, this program will increase the availability of cleaner water to more than 100,000 citizens in the Artashat area when it is completed next summer (if it is a two-year project will it really be completed next summer?). I am confident that implementation of this project will significantly improve living standards of people in this area and support the Government of Armenia in its efforts to develop the regions outside of Yerevan."