Development of a River Basin Management Plan for Hrazdan River Basin

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DEVELOPMENT OF A RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR HRAZDAN RIVER BASIN

CONSULTATION ON THE PROGRAMME OF MEASURES

APPENDIX 1

ANALYSIS OF QUESTIONNAIRES FOR LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT BODIES

Version 1, 28 September 2020

APPENDIX 1

ANALYSIS OF THE HRAZDAN BASIN PUBLIC CONSULTATION QUESTIONNAIRES FOR LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT BODIES

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

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 Hrazdan Basin Management Plan took place from 20 June to 20 August 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 (LSGB) representing 52 communities (57 questionnaires) and by non-governmental stakeholders in the basin – 134 questionnaires .A total of 191 questionnaires were completed.

This report presents the analysis of the questionnaires filled o, by the local self-government bodies (LSGBs) (57 questionnaires). Another report (Appendix 2) presents the results of the questionnaires filled in by non-governmental stakeholders.

The questionnaire was completed by the representatives of the local governments of the following communities of the Hrazdan River basin: Azatashen, Argavand, Arevshat, Byuravan, Abovyan, Dashtavan, Darbnik, Dmitrov, Ditak, Masis, Mkhchyan, Nshanavan, Sayat-Nova, Sipanik, Karashamb, Akunk, Proshyan, Aramus, Arakshavan, Arbat, Arevabuyr, Balahovit, Byureghavan, Garni, Geghadir, Geghard, Getargel, Getapnya, Goght, Yeghvard, Teghenik, Khachpar, Katnaghbyur, Hayanist, Hatsavan, Hrazdan, Ghukasavan, Mayakovski, Meghradzor, Mrgashen, Nor Hachn, Noramarg, Voghjaberd, Charentsavan, Jrarat, Jrvezh, Sis, Solak, Verin Ptghni, Kanakeravan, Kasakh, Aratashen.

RESPONDENT INFORMATION

Age Gender

19% 18% up to 30 y 30% 30-45 y Female 30% 33% 46-60 y 70% Male more than 60 y

Field of work / profession

7% Management 5% 7% Economics 7% Law 74% Engineering and construction other

From what source did you learn about the Hrazdan basin management plan?

RA ME Website 14% 30% EUWI+Website 17% Media

21% 18% Social networks Friends

Other 3

MAIN QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1

Please indicate what are the 3 most important issues in the Hrazdan Basin in your opinion?

Over-exploitation of water resources in the Hrazdan river basin 10% Flow of untreated effluents into surface and ground 15% water bodies 26% Pollution of water bodies with cattle breeding 26% waste Lack of water storage facilities 18% Pollution of surface and underground water bodies with solid household waste 5% Pollution of water bodies from mining industry

As shown by the diagram, especially important problems for the representatives of local self- government bodies in the communities are:

 The flow of untreated wastewater into surface and groundwater bodies (45 responses).  Pollution of surface and underground water bodies with solid household waste (44 responses).

These 2 main problems were also identified by the other interested parties in the river basin district that were interviewed (see Appendix 2).

According to the representatives of local self-government bodies, the following problems are less important:

 The lack of water storage facilities (30 responses).  Over-exploitation of water resources in the Hrazdan river basin (25 responses).  Pollution of water bodies from mining industry (18 responses).  Pollution of water bodies with cattle breeding waste (9 responses).

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 the representatives of 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 3 solution measures were presented.

Measure 1.1 Recording of actual water use through SCADA system installation

21% 32%

1= high 2= average 47% 3= low

Measure 1.2

Establishment of operation regime for two SHPPs (Aragats 1 and Gegharot SHPP on the Gegharot river)

14% 46% 1= high 40% 2= average 3= low

Measure 1.3

Control of water intake for hydropower, industrial and irrigation purposes

11%

1= high 35% 54% 2= average 3= low

As shown by the analysis, the following measures are especially important for the 53 representatives of local self-government bodies among the measures aimed at the problem of overexploitation of water resources:  Establishment of operation regime for two SHPPs (Aragats 1 and Gegharot SHPP on the Gegharot river) (26 responses).  Control of water intake for hydropower, industrial and irrigation purposes (31 responses).

The following item is of average importance:  Recording of actual water use through SCADA system installation (27 responses).

2. The second problem is the flow of untreated wastewater into water bodies. Measures refer to household wastewater (measures 2.1, 2.2), industrial wastewater (measure 2.3), and agricultural wastewater (measure 2.4).

Measure 2.1

Construction of wastewater treatment systems in Yerevan, Sevan, Hrazdan, Charentsavan, Masis, Ashtarak, Etchmiadzin, Aparan agglomerations of the basin

12% 21% 1= high 67% 2= average 3= low

Measure 2.2

Construction of innovative WWTPs in communities out of agglomerations, with a population of less than 500

9% 26%

1= high 2= average 65% 3= low

As shown by the diagrams, both household wastewater treatment measures are ranked as highly important by the LSGB representatives in communities.

Measure 2.3

Rehabilitation and reclamation of 3 mining areas (Tukhmanuk, Meghradzor, Hankavan) 5%

28%

1= high 2= average 67% 3= low

The measure related to industrial wastewater is of an average importance for the communities (38 responses).

Measure 2.4 Introducing best agricultural practices

7% 39%

1= high 2= average 54% 3= low

The measure related to agricultural wastewater also is of an average importance for the representatives of LSGBs in communities (31 responses).

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, and construction of Kasakh and Yeghvard reservoirs (measure 3.1).

Measure 3.1 Increase in strategic water resources, construction of Kasakh and Yeghvard reservoirs 9%

51% 1= high 40% 2= average 3= low

The measure aimed at the problem of lack of water storage facilities is ranked almost equally by LSGB representatives in communities as being of high (29 responses) and average (23 responses) importance.

4. The fifth problem is water management. Two solutions are proposed for this problem: improving water legislation (4.1), and strengthening institutional capacity (4.2).

Measure 4.1

Improving water legislation 7%

51% 1= high 42% 2= average 3= low

Measure 4.2 Institutional capacity building

9% 37%

1= high 2= average 54% 3= low

Among the measures to address water management issues, the improvement of water legislation is ranked as of high importance for the LSGB representatives in communities, while capacity building is of average importance.

QUESTION 3 Do you generally agree with the proposed measures?

14%

Yes Partially Mainly no 86% Not at all

86% of the LSGB representatives in communities (49 responses) agree with the measures proposed in the basin management plan, and 14% (8 responses) partially agree, and there are no communities 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 additional issues that need to be addressed?

Only 5 respondents out of 53 communities mentioned additional problems:

 Solve irrigation water problems in Darbnik community  Strengthen riverbeds with gabions to avoid washing of agricultural lands.  Clean the Hrazdan riverbed  Include household wastewater treatment plants and main collector rehabilitation plans.