Development of a River Basin Management Plan for Sevan River Basin

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European Union Water Initiative Plus for Eastern Partnership Countries (EUWI+)

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DEVELOPMENT OF A RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR SEVAN RIVER BASIN

CONSULTATION ON THE PROGRAMME OF MEASURES

APPENDIX 1

ANALYSIS OF QUESTIONNAIRES LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT BODIES

Version 1, 28 August 2020

Appendix 1

ANALYSIS OF LAKE SEVAN BASIN PUBLIC CONSULTATION QUESTIONNAIRES

EUWI+ PROJECT: "COMMUNICATION ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTION PLAN FOR PARTICIPATIVE RBM PLANNING IN ARMENIA"

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT BODIES

Within the framework of the European Union Water Initiative Plus (EUWI+) programme, the process of developing Hrazdan and Sevan Basin Management Plans started in 2018. The process of public discussion and consultation of the Sevan Basin Management Plan took place from 11 June to 17 July 2020. The Water Basin Management Plan is a guidance document developed as a result of collaboration between different stakeholders, offering common solutions to meet the needs of all water users, taking into account also the needs of the environment. Public participation plays a key role in the management plan development process.

Questionnaires were used as a key tool in the public discussion and consulting process, through which expert opinions and information were collected to make additions to the water basin management plan. The questionnaires were disseminated through Gegharkunik Marzpetaran, the official website of the Ministry of Environment of the RA, the official website of EUWI+, the social networks of the CWP, as well as various CSO networks.

The questionnaire was filled in by local self-government bodies (LSGBs) - 27 communities (27 questionnaires) and by non-governmental stakeholders - 102 questionnaires. A total of 129 questionnaires were completed.

This report presents the analysis of the questionnaires filled in by the local self-government bodies (LSGBs) (27 communities).

The questionnaire was filled in by the representatives of Lchavan, Karchaghbyur, Noratus, Akunk, Artsvanist, Berdunk, Gavar, Geghakar, Geghhovit, Yeranos, Lanjaghbyur, Lchap, Tsakqar, Tsovak, Chambarak, Makenis, Shoghakat, Sevan, Torfavan, Khachaghbyur, Tsovazard, Dzoragyugh, Martuni, Norakert, Vaghashen, Vardadzor, Vardenis communities. Figure 1 shows the Sevan Basin communities that participated in completing the questionnaires.

Figure 1. Sevan Basin Communities

RESPONDENT INFORMATION

Age Sex

7% 4% 26% 22% up to 30 y 30-45 y Female 46-60 y 96% Male more than 60 y 45%

Field of work / profession 11% 7% Management

Economics 19% 63% Law

Engineering and construction

From what source did you learn about Sevan basin management plan?

11% RA ME Website 33% EUWI+Website 19% Media

Social networks 30% Friends

Other 7%

MAIN QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1

What are the 3 most important issues in Sevan Basin in your opinion?

3% Over-exploitation of water resources in the basin of Lake Sevan 28% 26% Flow of untreated effluents into surface and ground water bodies

11% Lack of water storage facilities 32% Pollution of surface water bodies with solid household waste

Floods and mudflows

As shown by the diagram, especially important problems for local self-government bodies are the flow of untreated wastewater into surface and groundwater bodies (24 communities indicated their concern), pollution of surface water bodies with solid household waste (21 communities) and overexploitation of water resources in Sevan basin (19 communities).

According to the local self-government bodies, the lack of water storage facilities (8 communities) and flood and mudflow issues (2 communities) are less important.

QUESTION 2․ PLEASE RANK THE ACTIONS IN THE BASIN MANAGEMENT PLAN IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE (1= HIGH, 2= AVERAGE, 3= LOW)

This section of the questions highlights the importance of measures for local self-government bodies to address the key problems included in the basin management plan. 1. The first problem is the overexploitation of water resources, for which 5 solution measures were presented.

Measure 1.1 Control of water intake for hydropower, industrial and irrigation purposes

19% 42% 1= high 2= average 39% 3= low

Measure 1.2

Introduction of water metering system

15% 33% 1= high 2= average 52% 3= low

Measure 1.3

Providing of environmental flow on a monthly basis

26% 41% 1= high 2= average 33% 3= low

Measure 1.4

Recording of actual water use through SCADA system installation 8% 22%

1= high 2= average 70% 3= low

Measure 1.5

Rehabilitation of water supply and irrigation systems, reduction of water losses 7% 26% 1= high 67% 2= average 3= low

As shown by the analysis, the following measures aimed at solving the problem of overexploitation of water resources are especially important for 29 communities: o Rehabilitation of water supply and irrigation systems, reduction of water losses (very important for 18 communities) o Control of water intake for hydropower, industrial and irrigation purposes (very important for 11 communities) o Providing of monthly environmental flow (very important for 11 communities)

The following measures are of average importance: o Introduction of water metering system (average importance for 19 communities) o Recording of actual water use through SCADA system installation (average importance for 14 communities)

2. The second problem is the flow of untreated wastewater into water bodies. Measures refer to household wastewater (measures 2.1, 2.2) and industrial wastewater (measures 2.3).

Measure 2.1

Construction of septic tanks and sewage disposal systems in Akhpradzor, Lchavan, Makenis communities with a population of less than 2,000

22% 41% 1= high 2= average 37% 3= low

Measure 2.2

Construction of wastewater systems for Vardenik, Yeranos and Zolakar agglomerations with a population of more than 2,000 11%

1= high 33% 56% 2= average 3= low

As shown by the diagrams, the household wastewater treatment measures are ranked as highly important by the local self-government bodies.

Measure 2.3

Reclamation of mining areas (Sotk mine) 4%

26% 1= high 2= average 70% 3= low

The measure related to industrial wastewater concerning the reclamation of mining areas (Sotk mine), is also very important for 19 communities.

Measure 2.4

Cleaning of riverbeds and storm sewers

15% 37% 1= high 2= average 48% 3= low

Measure 2.5

Strengthening of river banks

15% 15%

1= high 2= average 3= low 70%

3. The third problem is the lack of water storage facilities. To solve this problem, the following measure is proposed: increase in strategic water resources, construction of Astghadzor and Argitchi reservoirs (measure 3.1).

Measure 3.1

Increase in strategic water resources, construction of Astghadzor and Argitchi reservoirs 15%

44% 1= high 41% 2= average 3= low

The measure aimed at the problem of lack of water storage facilities - increase in strategic water resources, construction of Astghadzor and Argitchi reservoirs, is ranked by local self-government bodies almost equally as being of high (12 communities) and average (11 communities) importance.

4. The fourth problem is pollution from solid household waste, for which the following measure is proposed: construction of a sanitary landfill for 5 urban settlements in Gegharkunik region (measure 4.1).

Measure 4.1

Construction of a sanitary landfill for 5 urban settlements of Gegharkunik region 7% 0%

1= high 2= average 93% 3= low

The measure aimed at the problem of pollution with solid household waste - the construction of a sanitary landfill for 5 urban settlements in Gegharkunik region, is ranked as highly important for the local self- government bodies (25 communities).

5. The fifth problem is water management. Two solutions are proposed for this problem: improving water legislation (5.1) and strengthening institutional capacity (5.2).

Measure 5.1 Improving water legislation

37% 26% 1= high 2= average 37% 3= low

Measure 5.2 Institutional capacity building

19% 22%

1= high 2= average 59% 3= low

Measures to address water management issues are of average importance for most local self-government bodies.

QUESTION 3

Do you generally agree with the proposed measures?

19% Yes Partially 81% Mainly no Not at all

81% of the local self-government bodies – 22 communities - agree with the measures proposed in the basin management plan, and 19% - 5 communities - partially agree, and there are no local self-government bodies that mostly disagree or do not agree at all with the measures proposed.

QUESTION 4. In your opinion, in addition to the measures listed in the questionnaire at the basin level, are there other issues that need to be addressed?

Only 2 communities mentioned additional problems:

• Clean Lake Sevan to remove polyethylene bottles, fishing net waste and tree roots. • Establish fishing regulations and restrictions.