Unprecedented Water Crisis in Stepanakert: Soviet-Era Artesian Wells Operational

An extraordinary situation has arisen in the capital of the Artsakh Republic, Stepanakert, due to drought, leaving 30 percent of the city without water. The State Emergency Service of Artsakh, in collaboration with ‘Water and Sewerage,’ has formed a working group and is delivering water to residents in neighborhoods around the clock with five vehicles.

According to Armenpress, the director of ‘Water and Sewerage,’ Gagik Poghosyan, stated that it has not rained in Stepanakert for the last 40 days, and temperatures have not dropped below 30 degrees Celsius. “Moreover, there are 10,000 to 15,000 displaced persons living in Stepanakert. That is, before the war, the population was around 60-61 thousand, and now it has increased to 75 thousand. Naturally, water consumption has risen, and the water supply to the city has decreased. This has led to this chaotic situation. Currently, there is no water in 30 percent of the city. We are working to maintain the remaining 70 percent so that it does not decline further. We are distributing water around the clock in the neighborhoods where there is no water using 5 vehicles. We have already activated two artesian wells that remained from the Soviet Union. We continue to look for and activate the remaining ones,” Poghosyan said.

Poghosyan described the situation as unprecedented, stating that the water issue has been pressing since August 7. “We are waiting for precipitation,” he added.

When asked about the theories suggesting that Azerbaijan could be involved in creating the water issue, Poghosyan responded negatively.

According to Hunan Tadevosyan, an officer from the public relations department of the State Emergency Service of Artsakh, rescuers have been distributing water to residents in various neighborhoods of the capital from early morning until late at night. “Fire trucks are distributing water neighborhood by neighborhood, especially to residents of apartment buildings,” Tadevosyan noted.

Tadevosyan confirmed that the situation is unprecedented; although there have been previous water-related issues, it is the first time that it has lasted this long. “Rescue workers will continue their efforts until the problem is resolved,” he concluded.

The residents of Stepanakert receive water from the Meghraget, Hraget, and Vararak rivers. The water levels in two of the rivers have decreased by nearly half, while the third has completely dried up. Mayor Davit Sargsyan made the decision to suspend water usage at all car washes and recreation areas in Stepanakert until the water reserves in the city’s purification plants are restored.

On August 9, Vitaly Balasanyan, Secretary of the Security Council of Artsakh, held a working meeting concerning the issues of drinking water supply in Stepanakert. Officials reported that situational measures are being taken regarding the supply of water to the city’s residents with a certain schedule, while work is being done to increase the capacity of the operational artesian well network.