December 5, 2014 - 12:10 AMT
Armenian rural communities to have improved water supply system

The problem of drinking water has always been urgent for the village of Lukashin in Armavir province of Armenia. Some parts of the village, which has 2600 inhabitants, have had no water at all since the times of the Soviet Union, and the greater part of the village has had a two-hour water supply schedule.

In spring 2014, VivaCell-MTS, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Foundation for the Preservation of the Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) signed an agreement aimed at preventing the loss of water, increasing the efficiency of water supply networks and providing basic household conveniences in 4 communities of Armenia, including Lukashin.

The water supply network project started in Lukashin in summer and is currently underway. In addition to the 4,2 km-long water main, a 12,2 km long internal water supply network will be built in the village.

The renovation works are expected to result in improved water supply schedule (from 2 hours per day to 24 hours), increased safety of the drinking water, fewer breakdowns in the network, and water and energy savings. According to the village administration head Karen Mkrtchyan, almost 70 percent of the project is completed.

A water metering system and modern water metering manholes will be installed in the near future, which will contribute to water savings and improved billing.