$1 billion investments is needed to improve the drinking water supply system in Armenia, according to Patrick Lorin, Director General of Armenian Water and Sewerage Company (AWSC).

As he told journalists in Yerevan on June 15, some $100 million was invested to modernization of the system by 2011, and the government, which is the 100% owner, is expected to take a loan worth $100 million for the coming 5 years, which will allow to achieve goals on providing 17-hour water supply in the country by 2017.

Presently the company is implementing a large investment project in Hrazdan which will be completed by the end of the year. There also are plenty of projects aimed to solve the problem of purification of water by means of installing relative devices.

Mr. Lorin said that up to date the AWSC serves 37 cities and 300 communities, except for Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor and Armavir, where average index of water supply duration makes 14 hrs. against 6 hrs. in 2004.

In 2004, the French SAUR S.A. became the manager of AWSC through a tender; the contract was extended from 2004 to 2008, then from 2008 to 2010, and the last date of extension will expire in 2011. “We negotiate on extending the contract term till 2013,” he said.

As regards the prices for water, according to the Director General, the price for 1 cubic meter totals AMD 179,78, (effective from April 1, 2009). He also said that no increase of prices for water is expected.