USAID, VIVACELL-MTS and FPWC Team Up for Water Supply Projects in Four Villages of Armenia

USAID Armenia Mission Director Karen Hilliard answering questions of the media at the launch ceremony.
Director of USAID Armenia Karen Hilliard answers the journalists' questions about the new partnership effort.
A.Karabekian, USAID/Armenia

For Immediate Release

Friday, April 25, 2014

Lukashin, Armenia – On April 25, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), VivaCell-MTS telecommunications company, and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) announced the launch of water supply projects that will improve access to drinking water in four Armenian communities– Berkaber in Tavush province, and Haykavan, Arazap and Lukashin in Armavir province. The projects will be implemented as part of the joint agreement, signed by the three partners in March 2014.

The launch ceremony, held in the village of Lukashin, was attended by the Head of USAID/Armenia Karen Hilliard, VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian, Founder of the FPWC Ruben Khachatryan, Mayor of Lukashin village Karen Mkrtchyan, and local residents.

Water supply, pressure, efficiency, and safety are severe issues in each of the four communities. Access to drinking water in homes is either very limited (2-3 hours a day) or non-existent, which requires residents to retrieve water by bucket from a nearby source. Water and energy loss is also rampant due to inefficiency, dated infrastructure, and lack of metering systems.

“We are all aware of the depleting groundwater resources in the Ararat valley, due to which a number of villages face water supply issues. USAID’s goal is to reconstruct the dated and inefficient water infrastructure which will help save energy and water resources, as well as provide clean water to local residents,” Dr. Hilliard said.

The projects will address these issues by laying new piping, installing pumping and reservoir stations where needed, and adding water metering systems to the water networks to increase efficiency and generate revenue for the communities.

“Creating and optimizing water supply networks in low-income communities in Armenia is essential to ensuring people’s quality of life. Sustainable water infrastructure is a necessary precondition for the preservation of the communities and their long-term development,” VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian commented.

Approximately 6,800 people from the four villages will benefit from these projects, which will be implemented by the USAID Clean Energy and Water Program in cooperation with FPWC.