Emergency Situation in Ejmiatsin: Sewage Flooding Homes

For a considerable time, residents of several streets in the city of Ejmiatsin, including Araratyan Street, have been waking up in the morning and going to bed at night only to gather around the hotline number of Veolia Water Company. It has almost become a tradition; residents call Veolia Water in the morning before their coffee is even served, waiting for the company’s employees to feel compelled to solve the problem that has haunted residents for several years: the sewage waters pouring out of manholes like a blind appendix resting on the residents' breaths.

In an interview with photojournalist Gagik Shamsyan, residents justifiably expressed, “The entire system is clogged. It only takes the slightest obstruction in the sewage, and the sewage levels start to rise, spilling out of one of the manholes and flooding our homes. The sewage even pours out from under the kitchen sink, soaking all the household belongings. Right now, several homes are inundated with sewage water. After months of complaints, they came, opened it a bit, the water levels dropped, and then the same picture repeated itself. We make our payments regularly; there are no delays, but even our complaints receive a very late response.”

Last night, several homeowners were once again dealing with water damage, as sewage flooded not only the yards but also inside the houses—kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms. To this day, residents are struggling to remove this foulness from their homes with their own efforts, along with their children, amidst the unpleasant odor emanating from the sewage.

After repeated complaints, two employees from Veolia Water arrived in an old vehicle and cleaned the manholes, but admitted to the residents that the vehicle experienced a malfunction. “We’re cleaning it now; we’ll clear all the manholes,” they assured.

In an interview with the workers performing the task, one of them blamed the residents for the blockages, claiming they had removed various items—rags, towels—from the manholes. “This issue has a history spanning several years and will be fundamentally resolved only if the drainage pipes are replaced completely. Everything was constructed during the Soviet times, and while it may have been adequate then, the situation has changed, and new buildings have emerged. Therefore, it is essential for Veolia Water and the Ejmiatsin Municipality to show a compassionate approach and resolve the problem once and for all. The solution lies in installing new, larger-diameter pipes.”

Residents also mentioned that it would be preferable if their complaints received prompt replies rather than waiting weeks for responses that are mere “copy-paste” reassurances stating “we are aware of your issue, and we’ll address it.”

Photos by Gagik Shamsyan