Areyan on Yerevan Floods

The advisor to the Mayor of Yerevan, Kamo Areyan, has addressed the issue of drainage. According to him, Yerevan's drainage and rainwater collection system is inadequate. "Currently, there are 167 km in operation. It has been entrusted to 'Veolia Water' for operational management under a rental agreement," he said.

Areyan noted that a study has been conducted, inventorying has been completed, and the results are to be presented to the government and donor sources for the construction of a new drainage system. It has also been determined that there are neighborhoods that lack a drainage system, which was never constructed in the first place. "As the city is improved and developed, the volume of surface waters increases because the groundwater is being pulled into the soil. New developments, asphalting, and paving lead to an increase in surface water volume, which necessitates the construction of a new drainage system. For example, four intersections are currently being dismantled along Teryan Street from near the Agrarian University to Tumanyan Street to accommodate the surface waters from the residential complex above into the rainwater collection network," he added.

Regarding the recent floods, Areyan detailed that the precipitation levels were higher than normal, and the rainwater collection system could not handle such volume. "We have a very small capacity semi-separated drainage system, meaning it is also connected to the sewage system. In the case of significant rainfall, it leads to overload, which can result in increased surface water volume in the streets. Therefore, this system needs serious investment and reconstruction," he emphasized. Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan also stated that the municipality has not undertaken major projects in this area for years; work began in 2022-2023 and commenced in neighborhoods where the system was completely absent.