More Water Released from Lake Sevan Than Planned for Irrigation in 2025

The Government of Armenia plans to release up to 170 million cubic meters of water from Lake Sevan for irrigation purposes in 2025. According to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, the irrigation areas supplied by the Sevan-Hrazdan diversion system are not fully provided with water. The project's aim is to partially fill the water shortage and reduce drought risks during the current year.

"The annual volume of water released from Lake Sevan through the Sevan-Hrazdan energy system has been set at 127.5 million cubic meters, considering that the main water source, the Hrazdan River, will flow at 201.7 million cubic meters. This figure is based on the forecasts and assurances provided by the Ministry of Environment of Armenia. As of July 29, the quota established from the Hrazdan River is 73.2 million cubic meters, while according to data from the Hydro-Meteorological and Monitoring Center, the actual amount has been 48.5 million cubic meters (including environmental outflows), which is 24.7 million cubic meters less and has been supplemented from Lake Sevan," the project states.

The government has noted in the project that water loss has been higher than predicted, totaling 8.3% instead of 5%. As a result, 38.5 million cubic meters more water has been released from Lake Sevan than planned. From August 1 until the end of the irrigation season, the system requires an additional 157 million cubic meters of water, of which 64.39 million cubic meters should be taken from Lake Sevan.