Arpine Hovhannisyan, former Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia, has issued a statement addressing the poor quality of drinking water in several Armenian communities and the operations of Veolia Water. She emphasized that the substandard water quality poses serious health risks and proposed filing a collective lawsuit against the company to hold it accountable for its inadequate services.
Hovhannisyan noted that the water used in many Armenian communities does not meet the standards set by the Ministry of Health. “The water we use does not comply with permissible norms. Its hardness, mineralization, pH, and other indicators exceed the established limits. Prolonged use can lead to health issues, including kidney, digestive, and cardiovascular diseases,” she stated.
Veolia Water’s Operational Shortcomings
According to Hovhannisyan, the root of the problem lies in Veolia Water’s management of Armenia’s strategically important water resources, which it has been handling de facto since 2017. Under the 2017 agreement between the Armenian government and Veolia Water, the company was required to conduct annual technical audits and report on its performance. However, no technical auditor has been appointed since 2021 because the Water Committee has not held a tender.
“In 2021, an international organization conducted the last audit, which showed that the company was performing poorly and fined it 122 million drams. But ‘guess what happened to that fine?’” Hovhannisyan said. “Veolia didn’t pay it. They said, ‘add it to the work we’re supposed to do.’”
She stressed that without an independent auditor, it is impossible to objectively assess the company’s performance. “‘I’ll tell you they’re doing a bad job, but Veolia will spin a nice fairy tale about how wonderfully they’re working, reducing losses, and overcoming water supply challenges.’ But who’s the judge? The Water Committee? And are they actually judging?” she questioned.
Government and Veolia Water Relations
Hovhannisyan pointed out that since 2017, Veolia Water was obligated to pay lease fees and make investments under its contract with the Armenian government. However, the government has been granting the company concessions, such as postponing investment deadlines, reducing lease payments, or accounting them as completed work. For example, in December 2018, Veolia was allowed to defer a 1.028 billion dram investment until 2025. Additionally, in 2023, the government took on some of the company’s expenses, including the cost of technical audits.
“In the 2025 agreement, the government says, ‘We’ll pay for the audit from the state budget, and you can include it in your work later.’ But if there’s no audit, how do you determine they’re doing a good job, and why are you granting them concessions?” Hovhannisyan asked.
Proposal for a Collective Lawsuit
Hovhannisyan called on citizens to unite and file a collective lawsuit against Veolia Water. She noted that in several Yerevan communities, particularly in low-lying areas, the water quality does not meet standards. “In Shengavit and Erebuni, the water’s hardness, mineralization, and pH are so high that long-term use can cause health problems. I personally sent water samples for testing, following all protocols. The results showed that the water doesn’t meet any standards,” she said.
She proposed filing a collective lawsuit to prove that the company is violating its contractual obligations. “We can file a collective lawsuit against Veolia Water, proving that the water they supply does not meet the required quality. We can do this, for example, for the period from May 1 to October 1,” Hovhannisyan stated.
Persistent Water Supply Issues
Hovhannisyan also criticized the reduction in water supply hours. “If ‘they claim they’ve reduced water losses,’ then why hasn’t the duration of water supply increased? Instead, the Public Services Regulatory Commission agreed to cut water supply hours. ‘The paperwork has increased, but in reality, everything remains the same, with a tendency to worsen,’” she said.
Hovhannisyan concluded by urging citizens to stay informed and be ready to defend their rights. “If you have questions, I’m ready to answer them. But we must understand that we’re paying for substandard water that doesn’t meet norms, and the water supply duration isn’t improving,” she added.