Now we almost do not remember the myths that were created during the time when the Soviet Union collapsed. But there are myths that are impossible to forget and some of them are the myths that we can feed the world with our apricot and also water.
Now these myths seem to be infantile things. From the prospective of both climate and also economics these assertions are not serious. The climate is doing its bad job and agriculture has a lot of problems now. However, what the director of the Armenian Water Company Patrick Laurent was really unexpected and unbelievable.
Several days ago it was announced that 56 people from Nubarashen community had been hospitalized. Most of them are children. There were opinions that the reason was the drinking water. Even people gave a specific address and said that it was close to the 16th building where the sewage waters were mixed with the drinking water. Now it is happening in Kharberd village and nine people from this area have been taken to hospital. The reasons are not known yet but the head of the village has told journalists that before people were taken to hospital the water supply had been cut off. The water supply system is in very bad situation and the pipes are out of order. There are holes on the pipes and the water goes out of those holes, and as soon as the water supply is stopped, the dirty water goes back in the pipes again. In the past people knew that after stopping the water they should not use the water and should leave the tap open for a while before they can use. Now people have water measuring facilities and they do not open the taps as they will have to pay for that water. As a result of this they get sicknesses. Even several years ago when the water of Arabkir community was spoilt citizens received only small compensations, thus the people of small communities do not even hope to get any compensation. That is the reason why they even do not complain or apply to any bodies, According to the media, it is more than one week that the people of Kapan are supplied with dirty water. The comment of the director of the Armenian Water Company on this fact was very amazing and unexpected. We are citing the words of Patrick Lauren as the following: “People have misunderstanding about the quality of water, after the spring snowmelt the water we are supplying to people may be muddy, but it is clear drinking water.” Now let’s imagine how we would export drinking water. Patrick Lauren also promised that they would buy the necessary facilities and change the pipe system. But it will be done later. The impression is that we have made and obligated the Italian and French companies to take the water company under their management and they are doing philanthropic work by managing this company. Thus, they don’t have a responsibility connected with the quality of water. They are promising to install cleaning facilities in Jermuk and Dilijan as the first step. After that they will work in other cities. The director of the water company even wanted to increase the rates of water but our committee did not allow. However, the other state institutions do not care how well the water company is fulfilling their obligations or investment commitments. This is not an original fact but it is what our government usually does.
We know about the example of the roads that were reconstructed with the money of Linsey foundation and later were in bad conditions again. However the situation is different with water because its harm is very dangerous for health and even there must be legal punishment for that. During several days 56 people suffered, later 9 people suffered again. The society did not receive any answer about this case. The sanitary and hygienic department is keeping silence. We would like to ask the chief sanitary and hygienic officer of Armenia to comment on the announcement of Patrick Laurent that the supplied water is muddy but it is clear drinking water. Really, muddy water can be considered clean and good for drinking…