Human Rights Defender Addresses Veolia Water, Electric Networks, and Public Services Regulatory Commission Over Mass Water Outages

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia has received complaints and alerts regarding prolonged mass water outages caused by Veolia Water.

According to these complaints, the outages are occurring without prior notification to the residents, or if notifications are provided, they are delivered after the water supply has already been cut off. The information about these outages on Veolia Water's official website has also been posted late, resulting in citizens not having the opportunity to collect water.

Furthermore, based on the complaints, individuals are unable to establish contact with Veolia Water through the hotline to obtain information regarding the causes of the water supply interruption and the timelines for restoration.

The analysis also includes publications in mass media and on social networks where people are raising concerns about the taste and quality of drinking water.

The Human Rights Defender's observation emphasizes that it is unacceptable for people to be deprived of access to water and sanitation in the summer and amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, hindering their ability to maintain personal hygiene.

In light of the aforementioned issues, and considering the mass nature of the complaints regarding water outages, the Defender's office has initiated a procedure, demanding clarifications from Veolia Water, the Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia, and Electric Networks of Armenia.