Development of a National Methodology for An

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

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DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL METHODOLOGY FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF THE AVAILABLE GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS METHODOLOGY IN THE HRAZDAN AND SEVAN RIVER BASIN DISTRICTS

Final report; February 2021

Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Beneficiaries

Environmental Monitoring and Information Centre (EMIC) of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia Responsible EU member state consortium project leader

Mr Alexander Zinke, Umweltbundesamt GmbH (AT) EUWI+ country representative in Armenia

Mr Vahagn TONOYAN Responsible international thematic lead expert

Mr Christoph LEITNER, Umweltbundesamt GmbH (AT) Responsible national thematic lead expert

Mr Hovik AGHINYAN and Ms Armine HAKOBYAN, Environmental Monitoring and Information Centre (EMIC) of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia Author

Mr Artashes AGHINIAN, hydrogeologist, PhD

Disclaimer: The EU-funded program European Union Water Initiative Plus for Eastern Partnership Countries (EUWI+) is implemented by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), both responsible for the implementation of Result 1, and an EU Mem- ber States Consortium comprising the Environment Agency Austria (UBA, Austria), the lead coordinator, and the International Office for Water (IOW, France), both responsible for the implementation of Results 2 and 3. The program is co-funded by Austria and France through the Austrian Development Agency and the French Artois- Picardie Water Agency.

This document was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union or of the governments of the Eastern Partnership Countries.

This document and any map included herein are without prejudice to the status of, or sovereignty over, any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries, and to the name of any territory, city or area.

Imprint

Owner and Editor: EU Member State Consortium Umweltbundesamt GmbH Office International de l’Eau (IOW) Spittelauer Lände 5 21/23 rue de Madrid 1090 Vienna, Austria 75008 Paris, France

Responsible IOW Communication officer: Ms Chloé Déchelette [email protected]

February 2021

2 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

CONTENTS

1. Executive summary ...... 6 2. introduction ...... 7 3. Natural climatic conditions and economy of the territories of Hrazdan and Lake Sevan RBDs ...... 10 3.1 Natural climatic conditions ...... 10 3.2 Economy ...... 10 3.3 Geology...... 11 3.4 Hydrogeological conditions ...... 11 3.5 Human-caused pressures and groundwater natural vulnerability ...... 12 4. Bodies of groundwater in the Hrazdan and Lake Sevan RBDs ...... 14 4.1 Overview of the necessary terminology which is in line with the Armenian legislation and the WFD ...... 14 5. Field and office workS ...... 18 5.1 Collection of archive materials ...... 18 5.2 Field works ...... 22 6. Groundwater resources, reserves and evaluation methodology ...... 24 6.1 Groundwater resources ...... 24 6.2 Separation of the river’s flow ...... 26 6.3 Groundwater exploitable reserves ...... 28 6.4 Groundwater usable, strategic water resources and national water reserve ...... 28 7. Evaluation of the available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Lake Sevan RBDS according to the EU WFD ...... 30 8. Projection of groundwater resources in line with the latest IPCC scenarios ...... 32 9. Groundwater resources and exploitable reserves in Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs ...... 35 9.1 Hrazdan River Basin District ...... 35 9.1.1 Kasakh River Basin ...... 35 9.1.2 Hrazdan River Basin ...... 36 9.1.3 Groundwater resources in Hrazdan RBD ...... 36 9.2 Sevan River Basin District ...... 39 10. Changes in water demand and abstraction due to different social and economic development pathways, considering the results and ongoing work of the EUWI+ RBMP contracts ...... 44 11. The current state of the hydrogeological monitoring in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs, necessity for its development and upcoming tasks ...... 45 11.1 The current state of the hydrogeological monitoring network and the necessity for its development in Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs ...... 45 11.2 Possible changes of the river flow in the result of groundwater abstraction in mountainous areas ...... 46

3 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

11.3 Perspectives of hydrogeological studies and monitoring ...... 47 12. Conclusion ...... 48 13. References ...... 49 Annexes ...... 50 Annex 1: Water balance in the Hrazdan RBD ...... 51 Annex 2: Water balance in the Lake Sevan RBD ...... 53 Annex 3: Separation of the rivers flow in the Hrazdan RBD ...... 58 Annex 4: Separation of the rivers flow in the Lake Sevan RBD ...... 59 Annex 4: Hydrographs of the rivers in the Hrazdan RBD ...... 63 Annex 4: Hydrographs of the rivers in the Sevan RBD ...... 64 Annex 5: Approved fresh groundwater exploitable reserves for individual terrains (deposits) in the Hrazdan RBD ...... 69 Annex 6: Approved fresh groundwater exploitable reserves for individual terrains (deposits) in the Sevan RBD ...... 71

Maps Map 1: Water balance evaluation in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs, Scale: 1: 200,000 Map 2: Map 2: Bodies of groundwater and groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs, Scale: 1: 200,000 List of Tables Table 1: Natural vulnerability of groundwater bodies in Hrazdan River Basin District (RBD) ...... 15 Table 2: Natural vulnerability of groundwater bodies in Lake Sevan RBD ...... 17 Table 3: Comparison of the restored and actual long-term average annual restored and actual flow rates ...... 18 Table 4: Brief water balance of the Hrazdan RBD ...... 20 Table 5: Brief water balance of the Sevan RBD ...... 20 Table 6: Results of water metering work activities on the field (2019) ...... 23 Table 7: Separation of the Kasakh river flow at Ashtarak gauging section ...... 27 Table 8: Calculation of the groundwater available resource in the Hrazdan and lake Sevan RBDs .... 31 Table 9: Average annual decrease in temperature (0C) , precipitation (in %) and river’s flow (in %) according to IPCC projected scenarios for the Hrazdan and Lake Sevan River Basins: high

emission scenario (A2) and a rapid stabilization scenario (B2) ...... 33 Table 10: Several different multi-year scenarios of the decrease of average annual available groundwater resources (tables 11 and 12) under changes in precipitation and temperature in line with the latest IPCC scenarios ...... 34 Table 11: Groundwater resources of the Hrazdan RBD ...... 38 Table 12: Groundwater resources in the Sevan RBD ...... 42 Table 13: Comparison of available groundwater resource with abstraction rate in Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs...... 44

4 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Abbreviations ADA ...... Austrian Development Agency DG NEAR ...... Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission EaP ...... Eastern Partnership EC ...... European Commission EPIRB ...... Environmental Protection of International River Basins EU ...... European Union EU-MS ...... EU-Member States EUWI+ ...... European Union Water Initiative Plus GEF ...... Global Environmental Fund INBO ...... International Network of Basin Organisations IOWater/OIEau .... International Office for Water, France IWRM ...... Integrated Water Resources Management NESB ...... National Executive Steering Board NFP ...... National Focal Point NGOs ...... Non-Governmental Organisations NPD ...... National Policy Dialogue OECD ...... Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development RBC ...... River Basin Council RBD ...... River Basin District RBMP ...... River Basin Management Plan RBO ...... River Basin Organisation SCM ...... Steering Committee Meeting (of the EU Action EUWI+) SEIS ...... Shared environmental information system TA ...... Technical Assistance ToR ...... Terms of References UBA ...... Umweltbundesamt GmbH, Environment Agency Austria UNDP ...... United Nations Development Programme UNECE ...... United Nations Economic Commission for Europe WISE ...... Water Information System for Europe WFD ...... Water Framework Directive

Country Specific Abbreviations Armenia EMIC ...... Environmental Monitoring and Information Centre HMC ...... Hydrogeological Monitoring Centre MNP ...... Ministry of Nature Protection SCWS ...... State Committee on Water Systems SWCIS ...... State Water Cadastre Information System of Armenia WRMA ...... Water Resources Management Agency WBMP...... Water Basin Management Plan

5 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report has been accomplished under the support program of the European Union Water Initia- tive Plus for the Eastern Partnership. It relates to the assessment of the quantitative status of groundwater that is an essential requirement under the WFD. The purpose was the development of a methodology for the evaluation of the natural groundwater resources and its components in mountainous regions. The Hrazdan and Lake Sevan river basin districts were selected as the case study areas. Groundwater natural resources in the Republic of Armenia mainly consist of spring, drainage and deep runoffs. The components of groundwater that discharge into the river are spring and drainage flows. The deep flow is being developed in the same watershed but bypasses the gauging point through deeper pathways. Evaluation of groundwater natural resources by its components have been conducted by a standard formula of water balance, along with the separation of the river’s flow. The methods for determining the components of groundwater runoff are given in this study. Groundwater natural resources for the particular river basin or area have been evaluated by the sum of spring, drainage and deep flows. For the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs in the territory of Armenia, based on groundwater natural resources, the following types of groundwater resources were evaluated:  usable water resource: estimated at 50% of natural or renewable groundwater resources;  strategic water resource: estimated to be 20% of natural or renewable groundwater resources;

 national water reserve: estimated by the difference between natural groundwater resources and the sum of the usable and strategic resources. According to the EU WFD, the available groundwater resource has been evaluated based on the estimated natural groundwater resource, taking into consideration the river’s flow or terrestrial ecosystems. The available groundwater resource is recommended to be equal to the usable groundwater resource. Projection of alterations in groundwater natural resources in line with the latest IPCC scenarios has been conducted. The necessity of groundwater monitoring network expansion has been substantiated, and upcoming hydrogeological tasks are highlighted.

6 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

2. INTRODUCTION

Results of hydrogeological studies in the territories of the Hrazdan and Sevan river basin management districts are provided in this Final Report. It has been completed under the support program of the European Union “Water Initiative Plus for the Eastern Partnership”, 2019. The assessment of the quantitative status of groundwater is a key requirement under the WFD. The purpose of the program relates to the development of a methodology for the assessment of the usable groundwater resources, the strategic groundwater resources and the national water reserves in mountainous regions. The work has been implemented on archival materials, including the final reports (EUWI+ part 1, 2018), completed by “Jinj” Ltd and “Geocom” Ltd in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs, as well as on the base of field studies in the frames of the current project. Following are briefly described in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs:

 natural and climatic conditions and economy,  geological realm and hydrogeology,  bodies of groundwater, their lithology, recharge areas, confining conditions, type of water abstraction and its quantity, water mineralization, etc.  human pressures, their potential impact on bodies of groundwater, intrinsic vulnerability of groundwater, etc. The historical data have been collected in line with the requirements of the TOR concerning the development of the groundwater evaluation methodology. Evaluation of groundwater natural resources in the mountainous regions (beside intermountain basins) has been conducted by a standard formula of water balance, along with the Separation of the river’s flow. The latter represents the spring and drainage runoffs, which are components of groundwater discharged in the river. These values are essential for the evaluation of the entire groundwater resources. Following data have been collected and processed:

 a long-term average monthly flow rate of the rivers in the water gauging sections,  the water use quantities upstream of observation points that are required for the river’s restored flow evaluation, such as drinking water supply, irrigation, energy sector and for other purposes,  the springs and related parameters, such as geological and hydrogeological conditions, flow rate, temperature, chemical composition, water use, etc.,  precipitation and evaporation. For Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs, following maps in scale 1:200,000 were compiled: the map of water balance evaluation, and the map of groundwater bodies and natural resources. For all rivers, considered in the RBDs, the graphs of the partitioned rivers runoff, or so-called hydrographs are constructed. Field trips were conducted to evaluate the hydraulic linkage between groundwater and rivers. The current state of the natural springs, bodies of groundwater, and human pressures were studied during field trips. As a result of works mentioned above methodologies for the assessment of the groundwater natural (recoverable) resources, and their components: the usable, strategic groundwater resources and the national water reserves in mountainous regions have been developed. The values of the exploitable groundwater reserves that were approved up to 1990-ies are represented as well. It should be noted, a concept of national and strategic water reserves, usable water resources do not exist in hydrogeological literature, as well as it is not used in practice. These terms are

7 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

first introduced in the RA Law "On Republic of Armenian National Water Program" adopted in 2006. However, methods for their assessment have not yet been developed. For the studied Akhuryan RBD, in the frames of the European Union's "Water Initiative Plus for the Eastern Partnership", these values were represented based on the exploitable groundwater reserves, which are being approved for a certain period of time and depends on the degree of study. Approved reserves can be changed within the limits of the evaluated groundwater natural resources. In Armenia, the exploitable reserves used to be approved only for intermountain basins and some springs, and those can not characterize the whole river basin usually represented by mountain zones and intermountain basins. For the first time, the methodology for the assessment of the usable and strategic groundwater resources and the national water reserves in mountainous regions have been developed in the current report that is based on the natural groundwater resources. The adopted methodology also includes some principles for assessing the exploitable groundwater reserves. Assessment of natural groundwater resources using the described method was carried out for the zone with a positive water balance, i.e. precipitation exceeds evaporation. Calculation areas are river watersheds which end at the gauging point (the river’s hydrometric point). Tentatively the surface area coincides with the underground watershed of the calculation area. Some territories in the Sevan RBD are missing constant river streams. Therefore, we entitled them as interfluve calculation areas, for which the water balance was calculated by means of the modulus of the surface runoff, M, (L/s ×km2). It is defined from the “Map of the rivers flow modulus of Armenia“ [5]. According to calculations, inflow according to Arzni gauging point in the Hrazdan river of the Hrazdan RBD was revealed at a flow rate of 1.15m3/s or 36.42 mln. m3/year, which can be due to the inflow from the Lake Sevan Basin. A similar picture is observed in the Masrik River basin of the Sevan RBD, with an inflow more than 0.42m3/s or 13.3 mln. m3/year. The map of groundwater bodies and natural resources in scale 1:200 000 represents the calculation areas and river basins by ordinal numbers. The natural groundwater resources by its components: spring flow, drainage runoff and deep flow are given in the appended table with respective numbers of the calculated units in the map. Besides, approved by categories exploitable groundwater reserves, as well as the usable and strategic groundwater resources and the national water reserves evaluated in the current report are given in the table Available groundwater resources of the Hrazdan and Lake Sevan RBDs were assessed according to the EU WFD. In line with the latest IPCC scenarios, several different multi-year scenarios have been developed to evaluate the groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Lake Sevan RBDs under the changes in precipitation and temperature due to the global worming. The number of boreholes gradually increases with the growing demand in groundwater in pre- moun- tain zones and intermountain basins. As a result, the river flow and the flow of springs are reduced. In order to avoid this phenomenon in time and regulate water withdrawal, it is proposed:  clarification of the number of water sources and actual water abstraction from the bodies of groundwater;  selection or increase of new observation points in the monitoring network between the zones of springs and wells. Groundwater management units have to consider the hydraulic linkage between surface and ground waters. Water abstraction out of boreholes in intermountain basins impacts on spring capacities located at adjacent areas, and ultimately the river’s flow. The latter also decreases when using drainage and spring runoffs. Along with the development of human being, the need for water is gradually increasing. Here, along with different types of water consumption, drinking water supply is of primary importance. When for

8 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

irrigation, technical and various types of economic activities, the secondary use of water is possible, for drinking purposes the high-quality drinking water is required. For this purpose, the following is recommended:  Artificial replenishment of groundwater by the surface runoff formed out of melted snow and rains in mountain zones (above 2500m);  The use of river waters for artificial replenishment of groundwater is not recommended, regardless of the degree of pollution;  Groundwater operated for drinking purposes should be used carefully, and water supply losses significantly have to be reduced.

9 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

3. NATURAL CLIMATIC CONDITIONS AND ECONOMY OF THE TERRITORIES OF HRAZDAN AND LAKE SEVAN RBDS

3.1 Natural climatic conditions

The study area occupies the central part of the Republic of Armenia. From the west, it is bordered by the eastern part of Aragats volcano massif, and from the north and east respectively by the watersheds of Pambak, Areguni and Sevan mountain ridges. From the south and south-west the borderline runs along Vardenis ridge and southern part of Geghama ridge, and the interfluve area between Met- samor and Hrazdan Rivers in Ararat Valley. The territory of the studied river basin districts occupies an area of more than 7000 square kilometers. Relatively gentle slopes characterize the Aragats volcano massif and volcanic ridges of Geghama and Vardenis, where average inclinations of the slopes up to 6-8 degrees. However, the slopes of the folded block ridges of Pambak, Areguni, and Sevan are steeper and are 18-20 degrees or more. The altitudes of the study area are in the range of 820m - 4095m where lower streams of the Hrazdan Riv- er and the peak of Mount Aragats respectively. Complicated climatic conditions of the study area are the result of frequently altering absolute elevations in the vertical section. Depending on altitudes a long-term average annual temperature fluctuates in the range of (-2.7) – (+11.5)0C, the average annual precipitation in the range of 250-929mm and evaporation in the limits of 213-434mm. High temperatures and evaporation, and scarce precipitation are typical for the lower streams of Hraz- dan River, that is lower elevations of the study area, and vice versa, the low temperature, and evaporation, as well as relatively high precipitation, is typical for a high mountain areas of volcanic ridges. Surface waters in the study area are represented by the Kasakh and Hrazdan rivers, as well as Lake Sevan and 28 big and small rivers flowing into it. Forests occupy limited areas in the studied river basin districts.

3.2 Economy

The main occupation of the local population is agriculture in the villages of Hrazdan and Lake Sevan River Basin Districts (RBD), including the production of crops, fruits, and vegetables, growing of grapes and cattle breeding. Economic activities in the Lake Sevan RBD relate to the operation of the Sotk gold mine, extraction of carbon dioxide out of mineral waters in Martuni, production of mineral water “Sevan” in the water bottling plant in Gavar, etc. Production of building materials (basalt, slab, volcanic sand), potable and mineral water bottling plants (Bjni, Arzni, Noy), salt production, electricity generation, fish farming, etc. are main economic activities in the Hrazdan RBD. Fish farming is the largest consumer of groundwater of the Ararat artesian basin. The light and food industry, production of electricity and other economic activities are developed in Yerevan. Numerous catering facilities operate in the cities of Hrazdan, Abovyan, Ashtarak, Gavar, and Martuni.

10 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

3.3 Geology

Rocks of various ages, starting from Precambrian up to Quaternary, occur in the geological structure of the Hrazdan and Lake Sevan River Basin Districts. The Proterozoic-Lower Cambrian rocks are outcropped in the Hrazdan RBD and are represented by various metamorphic rocks: metamorphic schists, gneisses, and marbles by a total thickness of the formation more than 2000 m. This formation is intersected by granitoid plutonic rocks. Geologic strata of Mesozoic and Cenozoic ages vastly occur on the northern slopes of Lake Sevan and represented by the various sedimentary, volcanogenic-sedimentary and volcanic rocks, that are conglomerates, sandstones, clays, argillites, limestones, marls, tuff breccia, porphyrites etc. Sedimentary and volcanogenic-sedimentary rock-bottom layers of Aragats massif, Geghama and Var- denis ridges are overlain by volcanic rocks of Pliocene-Quaternary ages that are represented by the dacites, andesites, basalts, and their varieties and debris. There is an alternation of various lava flows in the volcanic formation, separated either by the different lava flows or by the ancient fired soils located between separate lava flows. Blocky and fractured structures are typical for this volcanic formation. The nature and degree of fracturing are different both for individual lava flows and for the entire lava formation. Lacustrine-alluvial-proluvium sediments of the Quaternary-Recent ages are widely distributed in the Ararat Valley and Sevan basin, represented by pebble, gravel, rock debris, sand, and clayey soils.

3.4 Hydrogeological conditions

In mountainous regions, groundwater accumulation and movement takes place through certain pathways, but not spatially everywhere. It depends on many factors such as land topography, the river network, rocks’ structure, petrography, and level of fracturing. In the regions of folded block ridges, where sedimentary, volcanogenic-sedimentary rocks of low permeability are widely distributed (sandstones, argillites, clays, marls, tuff conglomerates, tuff sandstones, etc.), groundwater accumulation and movement take place in the direction of the inclination of the slope towards riverbed or erosional truncation. Groundwater partially discharges on the land surface in the form of springs, another part invisibly discharges into the riverbed in the form of drainage runoff, and the remained part of groundwater passes below of the riverbed towards the lower streams in the form of deep groundwater flow. The flow rate of the springs is highly altering in the annual cycle (0.5-3L/s) and may be of temporary behavior as well. In the regions of volcanic ridges, accumulation and movement of groundwater mainly occur in the buried underlava riverbeds. Groundwater partially discharges on the slopes in the form of springs by the flow rate of up to 1000L/s and more, and another part moves towards intermountain basins in the form of the deep flow. The latter feeds water-table and confined aquifers in intermountain basins. In the Hrazdan and Lake Sevan River Basin Districts, depending on storage and permeability characteristics, following hydrogeological units are distinguished: a) A complex of water-bearing lacustrine-alluvial-proluvial sediments: boulder, pebble, gravel,

rock debris, sand, loam and clay, Quaternary-Recent (Q1-4). b) A complex of locally water-bearing volcanic rocks: dacites, andesites, basalts, tuffs, and their 3 varieties and debris, Upper Pliocene-Quaternary (N2 - Q). c) A complex of locally water-bearing sedimentary, mainly calcareous rocks of local distribution:

limestone, marl, sandstone strata, Upper Cretaceous (K2).

11 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

d) A complex of weakly water-bearing rocks of local distribution, low permeable and confining rocks, represented by the metamorphic, sedimentary, volcanogenic, volcanogenic- sedimentary and plutonic rocks: clay shale, sandstone, clay, porphyrite, various tuffaceous rocks, granitoids (PZ-MZ-KZ) e) Locally mineral water-bearing tectonic fault zones Atmospheric precipitation is the only source of groundwater replenishment. As was noted above, groundwater is distributed locally in the regions of the folded block ridges that are characterized by the dissected with erosion network topography and steep slopes, and where the fourth hydrogeological unit is widely distributed. The development of groundwater mainly occurs in the residual soils of the original hardrock. Groundwater partially discharges on the land surface in the form of highly altering or temporary springs by the rate of up to 1L/s, The bulk of the groundwater is being drained by the river network invisibly, forming river streams by significant flow rate. At these regions, natural springs and drainage runoff are utilized for various economic purposes, including drinking water supply. Drilling of the boreholes for water is not effective at these regions due to the small abstraction rates or dryness of wells. The topography of the upper zones of volcanic regions is not too steep, and the main part of the atmospheric precipitation is percolating into fractured volcanic rocks, developing a big quantity of groundwater resources. Stone fields (chingil) occupy extended areas on the high elevations of the volcanic ridges, that are entirely absorbing all precipitation, excluding surface run-off nearby. This groundwater is partially discharging on the land surface in the form of high rate springs, and another part moves towards intermountain basins in the form of deep flow, forming groundwater aquifers. Nowadays, the main part of the natural springs is captured and utilized for drinking water supply. Groundwater is abstracted through boreholes in the intermountain basins (Aparan, Ararat Valley, Sevan) for various purposes: drinking water supply, irrigation, fish farming, etc.

3.5 Human-caused pressures and groundwater natural vulnerability

Agriculture and water utilities are the main factors of human-caused pressures on groundwater qualitative and quantitative characteristics. There are also other factors like mining, transport (railway and highway) and urbanization in the Hrazdan and Lake Sevan RBDs. Out of all factors noted above, the water use factor prevails in terms of negative consequences of groundwater abstraction in the Ararat artesian basin (Hrazdan RBD), which resulted in a continuous drop in groundwater level and decrease of flowing rate in the boreholes. These waters are operated for various purposes: drinking-domestic, irrigation, fish farming, etc. Mineral waters with a significant content of carbon dioxide are common in the locally water-bearing tectonic fault zones. Carbonic mineral waters are used in health resorts and bottled water production like “Arzni”, “Sevan”, “Bjni”, etc. The hydrogeological unit of weakly water-bearing rocks (complex d), that is of local distribution, and composed of residual soils out of volcanogenic, volcanogenic-sedimentary matrix rocks, is less protected from human pressures. Besides, the water-table aquifers formed in the narrow river valleys that are composed of loose materials such as alluvial sediments and rock debris are also less protected from the ambient impacts. These aquifers are in direct hydraulic linkage with river and atmospheric precipitation.

12 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Confined aquifers in intermountain basins, where water-table aquifers exist, are well protected from the human pressures. Until now, no significant qualitative and quantitative changes in groundwater have been revealed in the mountainous regions of Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs. An exception here is groundwater located in the zone of influence of irrigation canals, where an increase in mineralization and water resources was observed, but the quality indicators do not exceed the limits of permissible contents.

13 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

4. BODIES OF GROUNDWATER IN THE HRAZDAN AND LAKE SEVAN RBDS

4.1 Overview of the necessary terminology which is in line with the Armenian legislation and the WFD

Characteristic features of the groundwater body are lithology, porosity or fracturing of water-bearing rocks, groundwater replenishment and discharge conditions, nature of groundwater pressure, actual flow rate, relevant surface water ecosystems, human pressures, and other indicators. The body of groundwater can be porous, fractured, and pore-fractured depending on the lithological composition of water-containing rocks, and depending on the recharge conditions, groundwater is characterized by various qualitative and quantitative parameters (fig.1). Tables 1 and 2 provide a natural vulnerability of the bodies of groundwater on the territories of Hraz- dan and Lake Sevan River Basin Districts based on the work done by the EU support [1].

Figure 1: Natural water outlet (spring), the Hrazdan RBD, Lusagyugh-Aghavnadzor, the body of groundwater (2G-8)

14 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Table 1: Natural vulnerability of groundwater bodies in Hrazdan River Basin District (RBD)

Main parameters of the bodies of groundwater

N Lithological composition Code and Name Depth interval, m Overlaying strata, thickness, m Vulnerability number type of porosity

gravel, detritus, sand 0.0-55.0 boulder-pebble formations well protected 92 - 123 1. Aragats-Mulki 2G-1 55.0-70.0 dacite tuff 145 - 172 porous 70-92 tight clay

boulder, fractured and 28-39.8 protected 0.0-9.5 loam 2. Argavand-Masis 2G-2 crushed basalt 55-97.4 9.5-28.0 boulder-pebble formations pore-fractured 104-120.8 gravel, detritus, sand weakly protected 3. Meghradzor 2G-3 3.5 - 60 0.0-3.5 sandy loam, detritus porous boulder, gravel, detritus, not protected 0.0-1.8 sandy loam with detritus 4. Arzakan 2G-4 sand 1.8–34.5 content porous

fractured and blocky debris 5. Aparan-Ashtarak 2G-5 8.5-80m and deeper 0.0-8.5 rock debris with clay filler protected pore-fractured

fractured basalt 4.8 – 48 6. Jrarat-Yerevan 2G-6 65.4-99.6 0.0-4.8 tight clay protected fractured 151-160.2 0.0-1.8 limestone fragments fractured limestone 2.2m and deeper, 7. Mravian-Solak 2G-7 1.8-2.2 fractured limestone weakly protected spring outlet fractured

residual soils generated out weakly protected of tuff breccia, tuff 4.5m and deeper, 0.0-1.3 rock fragments filled by clay 8. Lusagyugh-Aghavnadzor 2G-8 conglomerate spring outlet 1.3-4.5 fractured tuff breccia pore-fractured

15 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Table 1 continued

Main parameters of the bodies of groundwater

N Lithological composition Code and Name Depth interval, m Overlaying strata, thickness, m Vulnerability number type of porosity

weakly protected clayey residual soils 1.5-2.5m and 0.0-1.5 loam 9. Voghjaberd 2G-9 deeper, spring outlet 1.5-2.5 tight clay porous

protected Hankavan (mineral granitoids, slates 20m, 28m, 45m, 0.0-11.0 conglomerate 10. 2G-10 water) 71m, 79m 11.0-20.0 slates pore-fractured

dolomite, marble various intervals 0.0-25.0 boulder-pebble formations protected 11. Bjni (mineral water) 2G-11 pore-fractured within 26.5-200m 25.0-26.5 sandstone

andesite-basalt, sand 0.0-4.5 boulder-pebble formations protected 12. Arzni (mineral water) 2G-12 18m, 85m, 110m 4.5-12 dolerite basalt pore-fractured 12.0-18.0 boulder-pebble formations

The GWB 2G-2 represents the water-table aquifer and two confined aquifers. Downstream of Yerevan, water-table aquifer is salty by natural conditions and never was used for drinking purposes. However, on pre- mountain zone, the depth to water-table is at the interval of 28-39.8m and aquifer is covered by clayey soils, its water meets drinking standards. The depth to the first confined aquifer is at the interval of 55-97.4m, and the depth to the second confined aquifer is at the interval of 104-120.8m. These layers are covered by thick clayey beds which ensure safety from the human pressures. The evaluation of the GWB 2G-2 relates only to confined aquifers. According to Article 4 of the groundwater directive, a groundwater body is of good status when groundwater quality standard (GW-QS) or a threshold value (TV) are not exceeded at any monitoring point [16, 17].

16 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Table 2: Natural vulnerability of groundwater bodies in Lake Sevan RBD

Main parameters of the bodies of groundwater

Lithological composition N Code and Name Depth interval, m Overlaying strata, thickness, m Vulnerability number type of porosity

tuff breccia, tuff 0.0-1.8 sady loam 1. Dzknaget-Areguni 3G-1 conglomerate 25 – 35 protected 1.8-25.0 tuff breccia, weakly fractured pore-fractured

alternation of the fractured 0.0-37.1 fragents of andesite basalt Lchashen-Gavar- 110 - 131.7 willed by sandy loam 2. 3G-2 and massif basalt layers protected Shatjrek 190 – 230 37.1-110 massif and weakly fractured andesite basalts fractured

boulder, gravel, sand 0.0-1.6 rock fragments filled by loam 3. Shorzha -Sotk 3G-3 7m at spring outlet weakly protected 1.6-7.0 weakly fractured limestone porous

0.0-5.0 boulder-pebble formations filled weakly protected water- boulder, gravel, sand by sandy loam (cap of the water-table 5 – 31.2 table aquifer 4. Vardenis or Masrik 3G-4 65.2 – 83.0 aquifer) 95.6- 193.2 well protected confined porous 31.2-65.2 clay with detritus content aquifer

fractured basalt 30m, 42m, 51.0m, Sevan or Gavar 5. 3G-5 0.0-30.0 massif basalt well protected (mineral water) 80m, 100m, 112m, fractured 150m, 165m, 180m

boulder, gravel, sand, 9 -36.2 detritus, small detritus 76 – 80.4 6. Lichk (mineral water) 3G-6 84.7 –96.9 0.0-9.0 loam with content of detritus protected 232.4–246.5 porous 259.8-268.1

17 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

5. FIELD AND OFFICE WORKS

Groundwater resources were estimated based on archival materials and field studies.

5.1 Collection of archive materials

The archival materials were collected following the groundwater resource assessment method. Assess- ment of the natural groundwater resources of the mountainous regions is carried out according to the general water balance formula, along with a differentiation of the river flow, for which the following materials were collected: 1. the flow rate of the rivers in the required water gauging points; 2. the quantity of water that is used for various purposes upstream of the gauging point (water supply, irrigation, diversion canals, etc.), which is not accounted for in the river flow rate. 3. the flow rate and other hydrogeological parameters of the natural springs 4. precipitation and evaporation The actual flow rate of rivers and quantities of the water taken for irrigation were collected from the published works of the “Armhydromet” Board [3, 4]. The restored flow rate of the rivers according to hydrometric gauging points has been evaluated by col- lecting and processing the archival data. The actual flow rates of the rivers were obtained from the jour- nals of “Armhydromet” of 1960-1970, 1980-1992, and 2010-2017 measurements. Of course, it is preferable to use comparably old data to restore the river’s flow in terms the former water use was comparably small, which increases the accuracy factor. The rivers’ restored long-term average annual capacities of 1960-1970, 1980-1992 were compared to the rivers restored flow data series from 1934 to 2017 presented in the “Development of draft river basin management plan for Sevan River Basin District in Armenia: part 1 - characterization phase, March 2019”. According to comparison, the difference between the corresponding values is 5.5-9.1% (Table 3).

Table 3: Comparison of the restored and actual long-term average annual restored and actual flow rates

Restored long-term average annual Actual long-term average № River flow rate according to 1960- 1992, annual flow rate Percentage, % m3/s 1934-2017, m3/s 1. Dzknaget 1.01 1.10 8.2 2. Pambak 0.2 0.22 9.1 3. Masrik 4.49 3.9 13.1 4. Karchaghbyur 1.20 1.27 5.5 5. Vardenis 1.75 1.71 2.2 6. Argichi 4.87 5.57 12.5

18 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Comparably high differences are found in Masrik and Argichi restored rivers’ flow’s (12.5- 13.1%). The registered tendency of the decrease in Masrik river’s restored flow can be explained by the drilled boreholes in Masrik valley for irrigation purposes in recent years. In Argichi river’s restored flow the increase tendency can be explained by the abandoning of the irrigation canals operated in former years. The flow rate and other hydrogeological parameters of the natural springs were collected from the Repub- lican Geological Fund [6]. Currently, in the mountain zone, most of the natural springs of significant flow rates up to 3L/s are captured and are operated for various purposes by gravity. Before the construction of water catchments, regular observations of the springs were conducted for one year. The tendency of the flow fluctuation of the springs was adopted for the evaluation of the monthly drainage runoff. During field trips, special attention has been paid to the state of the natural springs, which are a type of catchment and leakage. The potential groundwater pollution sources have been observed as well. Around 524 springs data were collected and processed to estimate the flow rate of the natural springs in the Hrazdan RBD, including 292 springs in Kasakh and 232 in Hrazdan river basins. Around 574 springs data were collected and processed in Sevan RBD. To specify the main parameters of the water balance that are evaporation and precipitation, the available respective maps of the territory of Armenia on a scale of 1:600,000 were used [5]. To increase the accuracy of the calculations, precipitation and evaporation contours were transformed to a scale of 1:200,000 from the mentioned scale and applied on a topographic map. Precipitation and evaporation values for separate isosurfaces were defined at a 400m vertical intervals. Precipitation and evaporation values depend on the geographical exposition of the mountain slopes and they vary both depending on altitudes and exposition. Therefore, these parameters have been defined for various terrains located on the same isosurfaces. Afterward, the aggregate values of all parcels of the same isosurface have been calculated. Finally, the precipitation/evaporation values over all investigated areas are being aggregated. For the studied river basins, the natural springs’ runoff is being determined by the actual field data, but the surface runoff is being calculated with the help of the surface runoff modulus. Water balance is calculated only for the zone of water positive balance, i.e. for the zone where precipitation prevails evaporation. There is a zone of negative water balance in the lower streams of Hrazdan RBD. Therefore, water balance calculations have not been conducted for these zones. Tables 4 and 5 are briefly representing the water balance components for the individual river basins and interfluve areas, those detailed descriptions are given in the Annexes 1 and 2. The estimated river basins and the interfluve areas are depicted on the map at a scale of 1:200,000 with respective numbers noted in Tables 4 and 5 (map 1). In the mountainous regions (beside intermountain basins), long term mean annual precipitation and evaporation values are used in the evaluation of groundwater natural resources by a standard formula of water balance, along with the Separation of the river’s flow. The main Atlas that is used for natural groundwater resources calculations in Armenia is referenced as [5]. The statistical probability of groundwater runoff is calculated with the application of the long term mean annual values of precipitation and evaporation (but not seasonal !). Our approach was as follows: 1) to find out the mean line of the zero balance by interpolation, where precipitation equals to evaporation, 2) to calculate groundwater resources only for territories of positive water balance. In Hrazdan RBD, the calculation areas of positive balance are 1-4, and the calculation area 5 is of negative water balance. Therefore no calculation of groundwater resources was conducted for this area.

19 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Table 4: Brief water balance of the Hrazdan RBD

1 Amberd-Shahverd 418.2 245.4 126.4 46.98 0.0 10.64 -61.38

2 Kasakh-Ashtarak 940.0 630.5 267.6 70.64 29.33 122.36 -140.57

3 Hrazdan*-Arzni 1242 849.15 402.5 114.16 157.31 211.60 +36.42 Western slopes of the Geghama 4 474 343.95 160.8 88.83 0.0 15.7 -78.62 ridge (Getar-Jrvezh river basins) 280.57 Aggregate for Hrazdan RBD 3074.2 2069 957.3 320.61 187.64 360.3 (244.15)

Table 5: Brief water balance of the Sevan RBD

Components of the river‘s runoff, mln. m3/year Deep Calculation Precipitation, Evaporation, № River basin or terrain 2 3 3 runoff, mln. area, km mln. m /year mln. m /year 3 spring drainage surface m /year 1 River Dzknaget 86 59 26.85 1.45 5.48 24.91 -0.31 2 Dzknaget-Drakhtik interfluve area 52 24.2 20 0.9 0 2.02 -1.28 3 River Drakhtik 40 23 12.1 0.72 0.72 4.82 -4.64 4 Drakhtik-Artanish interfluve area 96 26.8 19.4 2.5 0 3.9 -1.0 5 River Artanish 12 6.25 3.7 0.32 1.13 0.47 -0.63 6 Artanish-Pambak interfluve area 110 55.5 33.9 0 0 4.41 -17.19 7 River Pambak 120 45.6 26.8 0.69 1.7 3.56 -12.85 8 River Geghamasar 48.73 21.91 12.86 0.35 1.99 1.73 -4.98

9 River Masrik* 674.4 333.58 205.44 62.25 39.51 39.67 +13.3

20 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Table 5 continued

Components of the river runoff, mln. m3/year Deep Calculation Precipitation, Evaporation, № River basin or terrain 2 3 3 runoff, mln. area, km mln. m /year mln. m /year 3 spring drainage surface m /year 10 River Karchaghbyur (Makenis) 157.83 111.87 50.79 23.49 3.25 11.04 -23.3 11 River Artsvanist 72 53.2 21.45 1.77 2.68 11.57 -15.73 12 River Vardenis 124 94.5 35.2 14.8 2.52 37.8 -4.18 Interfluve area of the Vardenis- 13 196 128.7 60.7 2.83 0 40.32 -24.85 Argichi River Argichi- the Upper 14 366 255.55 99.15 27.75 26.80 99.02 -2.83 Getashen 15 Argichi-Gavaraget interfluve area 316 162.6 81.2 33.7 0 40.9 -6.8 16 Gavaraget – Noratus 400 274.6 113.6 55.75 0 51.26 -53.99 17 Noratus-Lchashen terrain 244 132.4 81.8 0 0 21.1 -29.5 -203.73 Aggregate for Sevan RBD 3114.96 1809.26 904.94 230.06 86.45 397.37 (-190.44)

* According to calculations, water balance in the Arzni gauging point of Hrazdan RBD comes out in negative value, i.e. inflow at a flow rate of 36.42 mln. m3/year occurs, which can be due to the inflow from the Lake Sevan Basin. Practically, this value of runoff is included in the spring and drainage runoff, therefore this value shall not be included in the aggregate deep runoff of the Hrazdan RBD. A similar picture is observed in the Masrik River basin of the Sevan RBD, with an inflow of 13.3 mln. m3/year.

21 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

5.2 Field works

Field studies have been conducted to clarify groundwater and surface water hydraulic linkage, groundwater discharge or surface water infiltration on certain places, to reveal new human pressures to evaluate their potential impact on the groundwater bodies. The field trips were conducted mainly along the rivers, in the absence of precipitation. Measurements of the flow rate of the streams were carried out on the upper and lower ends of the selected section at a length of 1-2 km or more. Measurements were performed with a float and a current meter (GENEQ inc., Model 3000) in August- September (fig.2).

Figure 2 Field current metering works

In the Hrazdan RBD, these works were carried out on six terrains and five terrains in Sevan RBD. The coordinates of the water gauging points and the results of the works are given in Table 6. The plus (+) sign denotes the groundwater discharge and the minus sign (-) denotes the river’s water infiltration. The water gauging terrains with their numbers and outcomes are given in Table 6. In addition to the water gauging, the natural springs on the stream banks were studied during field- work as well. In Hrazdan RBD, on the right bank of the Kasakh River, near the Karbi village, groundwater discharge is observed in the form of separate springs at a rate of 2–3 L/s. However, the springs are located in the areas of the potential household pollution impact and are not used for drinking water supply. Groundwater discharge in the form of wetlands and springs are observed in the upper and lower streams of the Hrazdan River. One of the discharge zones is located in the upper streams of Hrazdan River, between villages Jrarat and Atarbekyan (east and north-east of Hrazdan city, on the right bank of the Hrazdan River), where groundwater at a flow rate around 1500 L/s is used for drinking water

22 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

supply purposes and remained part of groundwater discharges in the river by the flow rate of about 1000 L/s. In the lower streams of Hrazdan River (Nubarashen ascent in Ararat Artesian Basin), lakes Sis and Kapuyt were formed due to the discharge of artesian waters on the land surface, by a flow rate of respectively 120 and 1040L/s. These lakes are discharging into Hrazdan River. In Sevan RBD, a great amount of groundwater discharges on the territories of Lusaghbyur, Khacha- ghbyur, Lchavan and Akunk villages. These waters at a flow rate of 1500L/s are used for various economic purposes: fish farming, irrigation, etc., after which are discharging in Lake Sevаn.

Table 6: Results of water metering work activities on the field (2019)

Water Coordinates, WGS-84 flow Diffe-

River basin gauging rate, date rence, № 3 3 point X Y H, m m /s m /s Hrazdan RBD

0 0 Kasakh Kasakh up 40 24' 10.13" 44 24' 04.9" 1634 1.47 30.08.2019 1 +0.18 (Artashavan) down 400 23' 13.06" 440 24' 03.21" 1517 1.65 30.08.2019 0 0 Kasakh Kasakh up 40 19' 59.16" 44 23' 18.65" 1216 1.76 30.08.2019 2 +0.13 (Karbi) down 400 19' 07.38" 440 22' 38.63" 1167 1.89 30.08.2019 0 0 Marmarik Marmarik up 40 35' 38.52" 44 39' 22.87" 1765 1.28 04.09.2019 3 -0.07 Meghradzor down 400 35' 01.49" 440 40' 21.5" 1752 0.21 04.09.2019 Marmarik Marmarik up 400 34' 18.11" 440 41' 21.31" 1739 0.95 04.09.2019 4 (Aghavnadz -0.09 0 0 or) down 40 33' 42.40" 44 43' 11.07" 1725 0.86 04.09.2019 0 0 Hrazdan Hrazdan up 40 27' 54.32" 44 41'54.73" 1534 0.73 05.09.2019 5 +0.34 (Solak) down 400 27' 42.94" 440 40' 07.04" 1503 1.07 05.09.2019 0 0 Hrazdan Hrazdan up 40 26' 21.29" 44 36' 12.83" 1455 8.65 05.09.2019 6 +0.19 (Arzakan) down 400 25' 08.98" 440 35' 40.02 1441 8.84 05.09.2019 Sevan RBD

0 0 7 Drakhtik up 40 33' 28.81" 45 13' 58.83 1974 0.086 07.09.2019 Drakhtik -0.068 down 400 32' 49.54" 450 12' 47.63" 1937 0.018 07.09.2019 0 0 Tsapatagh Tapatagh up 40 24' 54.41" 45 28' 43.63" 1984 0.032 07.09.2019 8 -0.027 down 400 24' 38.11" 450 28' 06.76" 1929 0.005 07.09.2019 0 0 Pambak Pambak up 40 23' 53.7" 45 32' 17.89" 2365 0.12 08.09.2019 9 -0.087 down 400 22' 18.8" 450 31' 30.13" 1927 0.025 08.09.2019 0 0 Daranak Daranak up 40 22' 21.71" 45 34' 27.60" 2041 0.098 08.09.2019 10 -0.082 down 400 21' 26.33" 450 33' 45.24" 1924 0.016 08.09.2019 Sotk up 400 12' 04.40" 450 50' 49.95" 1996 0.175 10.09.2019 11 Sotk -0.172 down 400 12' 15.43" 450 48' 40.16" 1970 0.003 10.09.2019

23 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

6. GROUNDWATER RESOURCES, RESERVES AND EVALUATION METHODOLOGY

For the quantitative assessment of groundwater resources in hydrogeology, concepts such as groundwater resources and groundwater reserves were adopted. Groundwater resources are divided into natural and artificial, but groundwater reserves are divided into exploitable and natural. Of these terms, groundwater natural resources are of practical importance, based on which exploitable reserves are estimated. For territories with a small area, the artificial groundwater resources and natural reserves have no practical significance. Depending on the natural climatic conditions, development and accumulation of the noted resources are different, which is why the hydrogeological literature provides methods for their assessment. However, the RA Water Code which regulates fresh groundwater issues does not contain the term "exploitable reserves", while the RA Law “On Republic of Armenian National Water Program” proposes a concept of national water reserve, strategic water reserve, usable water resources. These terms are absent in the hydrogeological literature, as a result of which there are also no methods for their assessment. This paper proposes the formulation of these terms and methods for their assessment.

6.1 Groundwater resources

There two types of groundwater resources are distinguished: natural or recoverable and artificial. Natural resources represent the rate of replenishment of the river basin in natural conditions, which are estimated by:  precipitation  leakage of surface waters (lakes, rivers) in natural conditions  attracting groundwater from adjacent aquifers The latter occurs in artesian basins of intermountain basins. Assessment of the natural groundwater resources in mountainous regions is carried out according to the general water balance formula, along with a Separation of the river flow. This assessment is conducted for the river basin or calculation area (Tables 4 and 5). A river basin is an area of land and underlain rocks drained by a river and its tributaries. A river basin is composed of surface and underground watersheds. Surface watershed - an surface area of highland draining surface water into the river. Underground watershed- an area of rock mass draining water into the river or its network. Once for a while surface and underground watersheds do not coincide. This phenomenon is typical for the river basins of volcanic ridges. It is not easy task to single out underground watersheds. In such cases, the surface watershed area is used in calculations, where errors can not be eliminated. When surface and underground watersheds do not coincide, the groundwater developed in one river- basin passes through underground pathways into the adjacent river-basin and discharges in the form of springs and drainage runoff. To avoid sufficient mistakes and with the purpose to reveal such a zones, the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs have been divided into water balance calculation areas. As a result, 2 river basins have been revealed, where groundwater inflow from their adjacent river basins occur. Those are the calculation area at Arzni measuring section in the Hrazdan RBD and the Masrik river basin in the Sevan RBD.

24 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Water balance have been calculated by the following formula X = Y+ Z ± W, where X – precipitation on the watershed or calculation area, mm or mln. m3/year Y –river’s flow rate at gauging point/measuring section, mm or mln. m3/year Z – evaporation, mm or mln. m3/year ± W – inflow (+) or outflow (-) ,mm or mln. m3/year For such calculations, only the data of the gauging point can be selected which is under long-term monitoring measurements up to 10 years and it is located on the mountain zone of the recharge area where water positive balance exists. A positive balance means the precipitation exceeds evaporation in a certain area. This method requires the following parameters:

1. Restored river flow. It is the sum of the actual flow of the river at the gauging point and the total flow of the water taken upstream of the gauging point for various purposes (water supply, irrigation, diversion canals, etc.).

2. The main parameters of the water balance are precipitation and evaporation. Under the conditions of Armenia, it is advisable to make calculations on a topographic basis on a scale of 1: 200000, where the upstream area from the gauge point of the watershed is being outlined. In this area, contour lines of precipitation and evaporation are being drawn. The maps of the evaporation and precipitation of the territory of Armenia has been published on a scale of 1:600,000 [5]. Precipitation and evaporation contours are appropriate to identify for the surfaces corresponding to every 400 m in the vertical section upstream of the gauging point.

3. The spring flow rate. The springs' flow rate of the calculation area is determined by historical data and actual (field measurements) materials.

4. Drainage runoff rate. Groundwater drainage runoff is being determined by the analytical method of the Separation of the river flow rate.

5. The flow rate of the groundwater discharging in the river (groundwater runoff) is being defined by the sum of springs and drainage runoff rates, which are formed on the surface of the river basin located above the gauging point.

6. Groundwater deep runoff that is being formed on the river basin recharge area can be determined with the help of water balance formula by the difference between precipitation and sum of river flow and evaporation.

Water balance formula river runoff= surface runoff+ groundwater runoff (without deep runoff) groundwater runoff= springs runoff + drainage runoff+ deep runoff deep runoff =precipitation - (river runoff+evaporation)

Thus, according to the described method, all the components of the groundwater flow can be defined: spring, drainage, and deep runoff. Spring and drainage runoffs are parts of the groundwater runoff that are discharging in the river. The deep runoff is a quantity of groundwater that is bypassing the gauging point underground and passes into the lower reaches of the river or the intermountain basins. The detailed description of the methods noted above is given in section 3.1 of chapter 3.

25 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Besides natural resources, artificial resources are being formed under the human-caused pressures, which are the result of filtration losses out of the hydro-technical constructions, percolation of the irrigation waters, as well as the establishment of hydraulic linkage between groundwater and surface water during pumping of groundwater. Artificial resources are variable depending on the efficiency of the hydro-technical constructions and can be of minor value. Therefore, the process of groundwater exploitation must be justified by natural resources. By the latter, we mean the frequency of groundwater in natural conditions, when there is a constant replenishment of groundwater due to the general circulation of water in nature.

6.2 Separation of the river’s flow

Following data are required for the Separation of the river’s flow in the mountain regions:

 the flow rate of the rivers in the water gauging points;  the quantity of water that is used for various purposes upstream of the gauging point (water supply, irrigation, diversion canals, etc.), which is not accounted for in the river flow rate.  the long-term average monthly flow rate of the natural springs The Kasakh river’s flow will be considered as a pattern for the Separation of the river’s flow according to the ”Ashtarak” gauging point: a) Determination of the river’s restored flow The actual flow rate of rivers, quantities of the water taken for irrigation purposes are being collected from the works of the “Armhydromet” Board, where the actual measurements were published [3, 4]. In the case of water use (hydropower, irrigation and water supply) upstream of the gauging point, that has not been accounted, it is added to the river’s flow according to months. Ultimately, a restored river’s flow according to months is being obtained. Afterwards, the long-term average monthly flow rate is being calculated (m3/s). As a result, the restored river’s flow is being obtained (Table 7, raw 1). b) determination of the springs’ flow The monthly average springs’ flow rate are being collected from the respective reports of the Republi- can Geological Fund [6]. Long-term monthly average flow rates are being calculated and filled in the Table 7, raw 1. c) determination of the variation factor K that is required to determine the monthly drainage runoff. To calculate the K-factor, at the beginning the minimum flow rate of the river has to be found in Table 7. It is 3.22m3/s that is deemed to be fully of groundwater origin. For calculation of the K-factor, the spring’s flow corresponding to this minimum river’s flow will be denominator (spring’s flow is 2.15 m3/s), and the K factor for each month is calcu- 3 푊푛 푊푛 lated by the ratio of the corresponding spring’s flow to the 2.15 m /s, 퐾푛 = = 푊11 2.15 d) determination of the drainage runoff It is supposed, the minimum river’s flow is entirely formed by the groundwater feeding. Hence, the drainage runoff of the month 11 is equal to the difference between river’s flow and spring’s flow, that is 3 퐵11 = 푅11 − 푊11 = 3.22 − 2.15 = 1.07 m /s. The drainage runoff of the other months (퐵푛) have to be calculated by multiplying the obtained drainage runoff to the K-factor of the respective months, i.e. 1.07xKn, where the n-is corresponding month. e) determination of the river’s groundwater flow

The river’s groundwater flow = drainage runoff + spring flow 퐺푛 = 퐵푛 + 푊푛 (1)

26 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

f) Determination of the river’s surface runoff

Surface runoff= river’s flow-river’s groundwater runoff 푆푛 = 푅푛 − 퐺푛 (2)

Table 7: Separation of the Kasakh river flow at Ashtarak gauging section

Component of the river Average long-term recovered monthly flow rate, m3/s flow I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII the river flow (Rn) 3.55 3.85 5.61 17.32 13.78 10.99 8.08 6.17 4.94 3.8 3.22 3.42 the spring runoff (Wn) 1.86 1.78 1.85 2.15 2.48 2.48 2.8 2.48 2.35 2.28 2.15 2.25 variation coefficient 0.87 0.83 0.86 1.00 1.15 1.15 1.30 1.15 1.09 1.06 1.00 1.05 (Kn) the drainage runoff 0.93 0.89 0.92 1.07 1.23 1.23 1.39 1.23 1.17 1.13 1.07 1.12 (Bn) River’s groundwater 2.79 2.67 2.77 3.22 3.71 3.71 4.19 3.71 3.52 3.41 3.22 3.37 flow (Gn) the surface runoff (Sn) 0.76 1.18 2.84 14.10 10.07 7.28 3.89 2.46 1.42 0.39 0.00 0.05

n-the month The tinted areas in the hydrograph below show a long-term average annual volume of the respective runoff; for example, the colored green space is the long-term average yearly amount of the surface water flowed during one year. The detailed data are given in Annexes 3 and 4.

Figure 3: Hydrograph of the Kasakh river at Ashtarak water gauging point

27 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

6.3 Groundwater exploitable reserves

Groundwater exploitable reserves - the amount of groundwater that can be obtained from a particular area by the technically cost-effective water intake facilities at a given operating mode and at a water quality that meets the requirements during the entire estimated period of water consumption. The deep runoff, that is part of the groundwater natural resources, which is being formed on the mountain zone of the river basin, is being accumulated either in the intermountain basins or in the river valleys and is perspective for abstraction. Hydrogeological exploration-prospecting works were conducted to reveal and investigate the deep runoff until 1990-s, and exploitable reserves upon categories A,

B, C1, and C2 were approved based on research outcomes.

Approved A and B categories are usable water resources, while C1 and C2 categories are perspectives for further studies. A and B categories are variable values and depending on the level of studies can compose 50-70% of the natural groundwater resources. Groundwater prospecting-investigation works had stopped since the 1990-s, therefore exploitable reserves had not been approved since than. Calculated groundwater exploitable reserves can be found in the special reports on groundwater prospecting-investigation works. The procedure of approval of the groundwater resources is as follows. The report is being prepared after groundwater investigations and monitoring works, that are examined in the State Reserves Commission or Territorial Reserves Commission. The proposed exploitable reserves are being approved on the categories according to the date of research after peer-review and corrections in the report.

6.4 Groundwater usable, strategic water resources and national water reserve

Water resources (including groundwater resources) are divided into usable resources, strategic water resources and national water reserve in the Law “On Republic of Armenian National Water Program”. These terms are missing in hydrogeological textbooks. Their interpretation is given below: Usable groundwater resources are the amount of water in the watershed or other territories, long-term operation of which does not bring to the depletion or pollution of groundwater. Strategic groundwater resources are the amount of water needed to meet basic human needs and to maintain water ecosystems in emergencies (droughts, environmental disasters, etc.). The national water reserve is the difference between the natural groundwater resources and the amount of usable and strategic resources. If groundwater natural resource estimation is carried out by the general formula of water balance along with the river flow Separation, the groundwater resource utilization factor shall be no more than 0.5-0.7 [7]. It is known that during the operation of the water-table aquifer, the drawdown (Sallowable) is not al- lowed to be more than 0.5 - 0.7 of the aquifer average thickness (H) or Spermissible ≤ (0.5 - 0.7) Ha- ver, Where Haver. is an average thickness of the aquifer. Based on these principles, assessment of individual components of groundwater resources is carried out as follows.  usable water resources - estimated at 50% of natural or renewable groundwater resources

28 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

 strategic water resources - Estimated to be 20% of natural or renewable groundwater resources  national water reserve - is estimated by the difference between natural groundwater resources and the amount of usable and strategic resources. Groundwater natural resources of Hrazdan and Lake Sevan River Basin Districts, as well as their usable water resources, strategic water resources, and national water reserve have been estimated with help of the methodology described above for each river basin separately. Approved groundwater exploitable reserves by the respective categories according to the protocols of the State Reserves Commission or Territorial Reserves Commission will be presented.

29 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

7. EVALUATION OF THE AVAILABLE GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN THE HRAZDAN AND LAKE SEVAN RBDS ACCORDING TO THE EU WFD

According to the EU WFD guidance document, the available groundwater resource means the long- term annual average rate of overall recharge to the body of groundwater minus the long-term annual rate of flow required to achieve the ecological quality for associated surface waters (specified in Article 4), avoid any significant diminution on the ecological status and avoid any significant damage to groundwater dependent terrestrial ecosystems [9]. According to the EU WFD water balances application guidance document, environmental water requirements for different large European basins or drainage regions are presented in some studies, as a percentage of the available water required to be maintained for environmental purposes. These per- centages vary (e.g. 40% for the Danube, 34% for the Dnieper, 45% for the Elbe, 47% for the Oder, 44% for the Rhine, 40% for Rhone, 35% for the Seine) but generally, they are around 40% [10]. In some hydrogeological environments, accurate figures will be difficult to obtain, e.g. in karst aquifers, and so there will be uncertainty associated with the assessments. Uncertainty must be recorded and considered in the assessment of confidence associated with status reporting. In many cases, this uncertainty and confidence in the assessment will not be quantifiable because they may relate to uncertainty in the understanding of the physical system, the conceptual model and other evidence used [9]. To assess the available groundwater resources according to the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive Guidance Document No. 18, a multilateral analysis of the components of groundwater flow in river basins was performed in this report. As boundary conditions the following requirements were highlighted: a) at least 50% of the river’s multi-year average natural runoff should remain as an ecological flow; b) the available groundwater resource should be no more than half of the renewable groundwater resource. Available groundwater resources have been evaluated in two various ways. However, obtained results are not satisfying and these two methods described below are not acceptable. As a result, the calculated usable resources described in the previous chapter are considered as available resources, which are summarised in tables 11 and 12. Option 1 Available groundwater resource= groundwater renewable resource - 50% of the river's flow + surface flow component in the river. In the Hrazdan RBD, calculations showed the available groundwater resource is more than half of the renewable groundwater resource, sometimes up to 90% (table 8, 4.Hrazdan-Arzni), that is not acceptable. Furthermore, in the Lake Sevan RBD, the calculated available groundwater resource pre- vailed the renewable groundwater resource up to 3 times (table 8, 15. Argichi- Gavaraget interfluve). Option 2 Available groundwater resource= groundwater renewable resource - 50% of the river's flow. In this case, null and negative values were obtained in Sevan RBD (Table 8). Taking into account the calculations above, it is better to offer the groundwater available resource as a half part of the renewable groundwater resource that is compliant with WFD GD 18 requirements and equals to the usable resource calculated in the previous chapter.

30 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Table 8: Calculation of the groundwater available resource in the Hrazdan and lake Sevan RBDs

Calculated Calculated available Available Groundwater available resource resource, renewable resource 3 № River-Observation point (not m /s resources, (not acceptable) 3 3 acceptable) (usable m /s m /s 3 m /s resource) Option 1 Option 2 The Hrazdan River Basin District

1. Amberd-Shahverd 3.43 2.85 2.52 1.72 2. Kasakh-Ashtarak 7.63 7.98 4.10 3.81 3. Hrazdan*-Arzni 8.64 7.69 0.98 4.32 Western slopes of the Geghama 4. 5.31 4.15 3.65 2.65 ridge (Getar-Jrvezh river basins) Nubarashen ascent in Ararat 5. - - - 12.86 Artesian Basin The Lake Sevan's River Basin District

1. Dzknaget 0.23 0.51 -0.27 0.11 2. Dzknaget-Drakhtik interfluve 0.07 0.09 0.02 0.04 3. Drakhtik 0.19 0.25 0.09 0.09 4. Drakhtik-Artanish interfluve 0.11 0.13 0.01 0.06 5. Artanish 0.07 0.05 0.04 0.03 6. Artanish-Pambak interfluve 0.54 0.61 0.47 0.27 7. Pambak 0.48 0.50 0.39 0.24 8. Geghamasar 0.23 0.22 0.17 0.11 9. Masrik 3.26 1.83 1.47 1.63 10. Karchaghbur (Makenis) 1.59 1.35 0.98 0.79 11. Artsvanist 0.64 1.21 -0.07 0.32 12. Vardenis 0.68 1.97 -1.16 0.34 13. Vardenis-Argichi interfluve 0.88 1.48 0.19 0.44 14. Argichi-Lover Getashen 1.82 1.77 0.14 0.91 15. Argichi- Gavaraget interfluve 1.28 7.05 -5.56 0.64 16. Gavaraget-Noratus 3.48 2.60 2.60 1.74 17. Noratus-Lchashen 0.94 0.94 0.94 0.47

31 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

8. PROJECTION OF GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN LINE WITH THE LATEST IPCC SCENARIOS

Atmospheric circulation is a key factor for climate formation which, in the territory of Armenia, is expressed as an influence of Western air streams peculiar to sub-tropical zones. Cyclones penetrating into the territory of Armenia mostly come from the Caspian and Black Seas, Iranian ridges of the Asia Minor. The main document that has been considered is “The Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C (SR15] of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on 8 October 2018”. The reduction of emissions by 2030 and its associated changes and challenges, including rapid decarbonisation, was a key focus on much of the reporting which was repeated through the world [13]. In regional scale various multi-year scenarios were developed by the Armenia’s Third National Com- munication on Climate Change, Yerevan (2015), and The Socio-Economic Impact of Climate Change in Armenia (2009) [12]. Climate change in Armenia is assessed using the CCSM4 model in accordance with IPCC recommended RCP8.5 (A2) and RCP6.0 (B2) scenarios for emissions. Future climate change projections for temperature and precipitation have been developed up until 2100 [11]. Temperature Average annual temperature increase projections in the territory of Armenia related to the 1961-1990 average show that, in an A2 (high emission) scenario, the temperature will increase by 1.70C, in 2040, by 3.20C in 2070, and by 4.70C in 2100. In a B2 (a rapid stabilization) scenario, the temperature will increase by 1.30C, 2.60C, and 3.30C respectively. According to the reports noted above changes in temperature will be within 1.3-1.7 0C by 2040 in the Hrazdan and Lake Sevan RBDs. As a result, the global water cycle will change, with increases in dis- parity between wet and dry regions, as well as wet and dry seasons, with some regional exceptions. Precipitation According to both scenarios (RCP6.0, RCP8.5) for the summer months there is an expected significant decrease in precipitation in all 3 periods: in 2011-2040 summer precipitation is expected to decrease by about 23% compared to the baseline (1961-1990) period [11]. The distribution of annual precipitation amount seen Armenia will not undergo significant change; however, in pre-mountainous and mountainous regions there will be a slight increase by the mid- 21st century. The last two fore- casts contradict each other, in one case a decrease in precipitation is predicted until 2040, and in the other case, their increase is projected over the same period of time. River flow In an A2 scenario, the aggregate volume of river flow in the territory of Armenia will decrease by 11.9% by 2030, by 24% by 2070, and 37.8% by 2100 (compared to the 1961-1990 baseline period). It is projected that, by 2040, there will be a 2-3% increase in annual river flow in the adjacent Azat and Vedi River basins, while in upper streams of the Hrazdan river there will be a reduction of 2-3% (A2). In 2041-2070 there is a projected decrease in river flow 6-7% in the Hrazdan river basin; in 2100 the projected decrease will reach to 15-20%. In 2030, the Lake Sevan inflow will decrease by more than 50 million m3 against the baseline (787 million m3) that is 6%. The brief scenarios of the projected climate change is given in Table 9:

32 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Table 9: Average annual decrease in temperature (0C) , precipitation (in %) and river’s flow (in %) according to IPCC projected scenarios for the Hrazdan and Lake Sevan River Basins: high emission scenario (A2) and a rapid stabilization scenario (B2)

The Hrazdan RBD, A2 scenario 2040 2070 2100 Temperature1, 0C 1.7 3.2 4.7 Precipitation, % 0 - - River flow, % -2-3 -6-7 -15-20 The Hrazdan RBD, B2 scenario

Temperature1, 0C 1.3 2.6 3.3 Precipitation, % 0 - - The Lake Sevan RBD, A2 scenario 2030 2070 2100 Temperature1, 0C 1.7 3.2 4.7 Precipitation, % -2-6 6-17 10-27 River flow, % -6% - - Armenia, A2 scenario River flow,% 11.9 24 24.4 1related to the 1961-1990 Source: Armenia’s Third National Communication on Climate Change, 2015,

According to Table 9, the rivers’ flow in Hrazdan RBD will decrease in a range of 2-20 % by various scenarios. Taking into consideration the groundwater flow is in direct correlation with river’s flow, the groundwater available resources are projected up to 2100 for various scenarios according to the projected rivers flow. Several different multi-year scenarios have been developed to evaluate the groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Lake Sevan RBDs under the changes in precipitation and temperature due to the global worming (Table 10). Table 10 represents projected decrease of available groundwater resources in accordance with IPCC recommended RCP8.5 (A2) and RCP6.0 (B2) scenarios for emissions. As known, the meltwater of the snow cover in the highland areas of volcanic ranges plays an im- portant role for groundwater replenishment in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs. According to the published scenarios, summer precipitation will decrease, but it has no any significance for groundwater recharge of the studied RDBs. Hence, it is impossible to project seasonal changes of groundwater resources according to IPCC scenarios.

33 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Table 10: Several different multi-year scenarios of the decrease of average annual available groundwater resources (tables 11 and 12) under changes in precipitation and temperature in line with the latest IPCC scenarios

Climate Change Scenarios

River-Observation Usable Available A2 A2 A2 B2 B2 B2 № point resource resource

2030 2070 2100 2030 2070 2100

renewable resources Groundwater -3% -7% -20% 0% -5% -13%

Hrazdan River Basin District, m3/s

1 Amberd-Shahverd 3.43 1.72 1.72 1.67 1.60 1.38 1.72 1.63 1.50

2 Kasakh-Ashtarak 7.63 3.81 3.81 3.70 3.54 3.05 3.81 3.62 3.31

3 Hrazdan*-Arzni 8.64 4.32 4.32 4.19 4.02 3.46 4.32 4.10 3.76 Western slopes of the Geghama ridge 4 5.31 2.65 2.66 2.58 2.47 2.12 2.66 2.52 2.31 (Getar-Jrvezh river basins) Nubarashen ascent 5 in Ararat Artesian 12.86 12.47 11.96 10.29 12.86 12.22 11.19

Basin Total 25.01 12.5 12.5

Lake Sevan's River Basin District, m3/s 1 Dzknaget 0.23 0.11 0.11 0.11 0.10 0.09 0.11 0.10 0.10 Dzknaget-Drakhtik 2 0.07 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.04 0.04 0.03 interfluve 3 Drakhtik 0.19 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.08 0.07 0.09 0.09 0.08 Drakhtik-Artanish 4 0.11 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.05 0.06 0.06 0.05 interfluve 5 Artanish 0.07 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.03 Artanish-Pambak 6 0.54 0.27 0.27 0.26 0.25 0.22 0.27 0.26 0.23 interfluve 7 Pambak 0.48 0.24 0.24 0.23 0.22 0.19 0.24 0.23 0.21 8 Geghamasar 0.23 0.11 0.11 0.11 0.10 0.09 0.11 0.10 0.10 9 Masrik 3.26 1.63 1.63 1.58 1.52 1.30 1.63 1.55 1.42 Karchaghbur 10 1.59 0.79 0.79 0.77 0.73 0.63 0.79 0.75 0.69 (Makenis) 11 Artsvanist 0.64 0.32 0.32 0.31 0.30 0.26 0.32 0.30 0.28 12 Vardenis 0.68 0.34 0.34 0.33 0.32 0.27 0.34 0.32 0.30 Vardenis-Argichi 13 0.88 0.44 0.44 0.43 0.41 0.35 0.44 0.42 0.38 interfluve Argichi-Upper 14 1.82 0.91 0.91 0.88 0.85 0.73 0.91 0.86 0.79 Getashen Argichi- Gavaraget 15 1.28 0.64 0.64 0.62 0.60 0.51 0.64 0.61 0.56 interfluve 16 Gavaraget-Noratus 3.48 1.74 1.74 1.69 1.62 1.39 1.74 1.65 1.51 17 Noratus-Lchashen 0.94 0.47 0.47 0.46 0.44 0.38 0.47 0.45 0.41

34 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

9. GROUNDWATER RESOURCES AND EXPLOITABLE RESERVES IN HRAZDAN AND SEVAN RBDS

9.1 Hrazdan River Basin District

Hrazdan RBD is composed of Hrazdan and Kasakh river basins. Natural resources of groundwater have been evaluated only for mountain zones of the river basins, where positive water balance, i.e. precipitation prevails evaporation. The main part of the lower streams of both rivers is situated on the Nubarashen assent of the Ararat artesian basin. Here, the evaporation exceeds precipitation 1.3- 1.5 times. There no doubt, in such conditions the groundwater resources can not be formed in the annual section. However, a significant amount of groundwater resources is being accumulated in the Ararat artesian basin. These resources are formed both by the deep runoff from the surrounding mountain slopes outside the Hrazdan RBD and due to infiltration from riverbeds. Besides, the replenishment of groundwater resources also takes place from the western parts of the Ararat artesian basin, which is Akhuryan RBD. Assessment of groundwater resources has been conducted according to the methodology in Chapter 4, generalized outcomes by river basins are given in tables 11 and 12.

9.1.1 Kasakh River Basin

Groundwater natural resources have been evaluated for the area covering 1358.2km2, which encom- passes a zone of positive water balance. This area occupies the Kasakh river basin up to Ashtarak gauging point, as well as river basins of Amberd and Shahverd tributaries. Approved exploitable reserves of these territories, as well as usable and strategic water resources, and national water reserves are given in Table 11. 1. Groundwater natural resources are of 11.06m3/s, of which  the spring runoff – 3.73 m3/s  the drainage runoff – 0.93 m3/s  the deep runoff - 6.40 m3/s 2. Values of groundwater explored and approved exploitable reserves are given for individual terrains in Annex 5 and aggregate 5.89 m3/s, of which  categories A+B– 3.35 m3/s  category C1 – 0.46 m3/s  category C2 – 2.08 m3/s 3. The aggregate capacity of the groundwater usable, strategic water resources and national water reserve correspond to natural groundwater resources and equals to 11.06m3/s, of which:  the usable groundwater resources – 5.53 m3/s  the strategic groundwater resources – 2.21 m3/s  the national groundwater reserve – 3.32 m3/s

35 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

9.1.2 Hrazdan River Basin

Natural groundwater resources of the Hrazdan RBD have been evaluated for the area of 1716km2. This area occupies the Hrazdan river basin up to the Arzni gauging point, as well as upper parts of the river basins of Akunk, Getar and Jrvezh tributaries that are in the zone of positive water balance: western slopes of the Geghama ridge in the zone of positive water balance. As was noted, the lower streams of Hrazdan river are occupied by the Nubarashen assent of the Ara- rat artesian basin, where evaporation exceeds precipitation. Therefore groundwater natural resources have not been evaluated for this area. Based on actual abstraction rate during hydrogeological exploration works and evaluation of the pumping test data (well hydraulics). groundwater exploitable reserves on categories A, B and C2 were evaluated and approved for this area. Various types of groundwater resources and exploitable reserves of the mountain zones and foothills of Hrazdan river basin are given below and briefly represented in Table 11. 1.Aggregate groundwater natural resources are 13.95m3/s, including  the spring runoff – 6.44 m3/s  the drainage runoff – 5.02 m3/s  the deep runoff - 2.49 m3/s 2.Values of groundwater approved exploitable reserves are given for individual terrains in Annex 5 that aggregates 5.82 m3/s for mountain and foothill zones, of which  the categories A+B – 4.93 m3/s 3  the category C1 – 0.89 m /s 3.Groundwater usable and strategic resources and national water reserves are equal to groundwater natural resources and aggregate 13.95m3/s, including  the usable water resources – 6.97 m3/s  the strategic water resources – 2.79 m3/s  the national water reserves – 4.19 m3/s Based on actual abstraction rate during hydrogeological exploration works and evaluation of the pumping test data (well hydraulics) the groundwater exploitable reserves were evaluated and approved for the territory of lower streams of Hrazdan river or Nubarashen assent of the Ararat artesian basin, that totals 24.1 m3/s, including  categories A+B – 12.86 m3/s 3  category C2– 11.24 m /s

9.1.3 Groundwater resources in Hrazdan RBD

Accumulation of groundwater in the territory of Nubarashen assent of the Ararat artesian basin (lower streams of Hrazdan river) mainly takes place from the Armavir depression (Akhuryan RBD) of the same Ararat artesian basin. Therefore, groundwater resources of Hrazdan RBD are given by the groundwater resources that are developing in the mountain zones of Hrazdan and Kasakh river basins. Total approved exploitable reserves of the Hrazdan RBD are given by the sum of approved reserves in a) mountain zones and foothills of Hrazdan river basin and b) Nubarashen assent of the Ararat artesian basin. 1. Aggregate natural groundwater resources of Hrazdan RBD aggregate 25.01 m3/s, including  the spring runoff – 10.17 m3/s  the drainage runoff – 5.95 m3/s  the deep runoff - 8.90 m3/s

36 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

2. Total approved exploitable reserves of the Hrazdan RBD are of 35.81 m3/s, including  categories A+B – 21.14 m3/s 3  category C1– 1.35 m /s 3  category C2– 13.32 m /s 3. Groundwater usable and strategic resources and national water reserves in mountain zones and foothills of Hrazdan RBD are of 25.01 m3/s that is equal to the natural groundwater resources, including  the usable water resources – 12.50 m3/s  the strategic water resources – 5.0 m3/s  the national water reserves – 7.50 m3/s

Spring and deep runoff components are separately given in Table 11 with the purpose to show the facilities of groundwater abstraction either boreholes or spring catchments.

37 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Table 11: Groundwater resources of the Hrazdan RBD

Natural (recoverable) groundwater resources, Approved exploitable Components of groundwater resources, 3 3 3 River mln. m /year groundwater reserves, m /s m /s № Calculation area 3 basin m /s Components Category Components Total Total Total spring drainage deep A+B C1 C2 usable strategic national 108.36 46.98 61.38 1.Amberd-Shahverd - - - - - 3.43 1.72 0.68 1.03 3.43 1.49 1.94 240.57 70.64 29.33 140.60 2.Kasakh – Ashtarak 5.89 3.35 0.46 2.08 7.63 3.81 1.53 2.29 7.63 2.24 0.93 4.46 Aggregate for Kasakh river 348.93 117.62 29.33 201.98 I Kasakh 5.89 3.35 0.46 2.08 11.06 5.53 2.21 3.32 basin 11.06 3.73 0.93 6.40 including 201.98 - - - 3.51 1.31 0.36 1.84 6.40 3.20 1.28 1.92 a) deep runoff 6.40 b) groundwater runoff (without 146.91 - - - 2.38 2.04 0.10 0.24 4.66 2.33 0.93 1.40 deep runoff) 4.66 272.47 114.16 158.31 3.Hrazdan-Arzni - - - - - 8.64 4.32 1.73 2.59 8.64 3.62 5.02 4.Western slopes of Geghama 167.43 88.83 78.6 - - - - - 5.31 2.65 1.06 1.60 ridge 5.31 2.82 2.49 Aggregate for Hrazdan river 439.9 202.99 158.31 78.6 II 5.82 4.93 0.89 - 13.95 6.97 2.79 4.19 basin 13.95 6.44 5.02 2.49 including 78.6 - - - 1.59 1.05 0.54 - 2.49 1.24 0.50 0.75 a) deep runoff 2.49 Hrazdan b) groundwater runoff (without 361.3 - - - 4.23 3.88 0.35 - 11.46 5.73 2.29 3.44 deep runoff) 11.46 5.Nubarashen ascent in Ararat - - - - 24.1 12.86 - 11.24 - - - - Artesian Basin including II - - - - 20.84 9.6 - 11.24 - - - - a) deep runoff b) groundwater runoff (without - - - - 3.26 3.26 ------deep runoff) 788.83 320.61 187.64 280.58 Aggregate in the Hrazdan RBD 35.81 21.14 1.35 13.32 25.01 12.5 5.0 7.50 25.01 10.17 5.95 8.9 including 280.58 ------a) deep runoff 8.90 508.25 b) groundwater runoff (without deep runoff) ------16.11

38 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

9.2 Sevan River Basin District

Sevan RBD occupies the area of the Lake Sevan’s watershed and 28 big and small rivers flowing into the lake. Groundwater natural resources have been evaluated for the 17 calculation areas covering an area of up to 3115km2 (Table 12, map 2). Calculation areas are represented by the river basins and interfluve areas. 1.Groundwater resources that are developing at Pambak-Areguni ridges have local distribution and of limited quantity. Weakly water-bearing volcanogenic, volcanogenic-sedimentary rocks, that are represented by porphyrite, various types of tuff breccia and calcareous rocks are of high extend. Groundwater resources have been evaluated for 7 calculation areas, where flow capacities in the range of 0.07-0.54m3/s for separate calculation areas. Relatively high capacities are registered in the zones of calcareous rocks. The total amount of groundwater natural resources in the territory of Pambak-Areguni ridges aggregate 1.69m3/s, including  the spring runoff – 0.21 m3/s  the drainage runoff – 0.28 m3/s  the deep runoff - 1.20 m3/s The deep groundwater is flowing towards the Sevan basin, where it is accumulated. Hydrogeological exploration works, approval of exploitable reserves had not been conducted in the territory of Pambak- Areguni ridges because of local distribution and limited groundwater resources. According to the proposed methodology, the components of groundwater usable, strategic water resources and national water reserve correspond to natural groundwater resources and equals to 1.69m3/s, of which:

 the usable groundwater resources – 0.84 m3/s  the strategic groundwater resources – 0.35 m3/s  the national groundwater reserve – 0.50 m3/s 2.The calculation area of the Masrik basin occupies the Geghamasar-Masrik-Karchaghbur river basins or №№8-10 calculation areas. Groundwater natural resources have been calculated up to 5.08m3/s, including

 the spring runoff – 2.76 m3/s  the drainage runoff – 1.42 m3/s  the deep runoff - 0.90 m3/s Hydrogeological exploration works had been conducted in this area, and groundwater exploitable reserves were approved on those results as of 3.93m3/s, including

 categories A+B– 2.7 m3/s

3  category C1 – 1.23 m /s out of which discharge rate is 2.87 m3/s and the deep runoff is 1.06 m3/s

39 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

According to the proposed methodology, the components of groundwater usable, strategic water resources and national water reserve correspond to natural groundwater resources and equals to 5.08m 3/s, of which:  the usable groundwater resources – 2.53 m3/s  the strategic groundwater resources – 1.02 m3/s  the national groundwater reserve – 1.53 m3/s 3.The Artsvanist-Martuni territory is divided into 4 calculation areas (№№ 11-14). Groundwater natural resources in certain areas have been evaluated in the range of 0.64-1.82m3/s. Groundwater natural resources have been calculated up to 4.02m3/s, including  the spring runoff –1.50 m3/s  the drainage runoff – 1.01 m3/s  the deep runoff - 1.51 m3/s Hydrogeological exploration works had been conducted in this area, and groundwater exploitable reserves were approved on those results as of 1.98m3/s, including  categories A+B– 1.09 m3/s

3  category C1 – 0.13 m /s

3  category C2 – 0.81 m /s According to the proposed methodology, the components of groundwater usable, strategic water resources and national water reserve correspond to natural groundwater resources and equals to 4.02m3/s, of which:  the usable groundwater resources – 2.01 m3/s  the strategic groundwater resources – 0.81 m3/s  the national groundwater reserve – 1.2 m3/s 4.The Argichi-Lchashen territory is divided into 3 calculation areas (№№ 15-17). 1.Aggregate groundwater natural resources have been evaluated as of 5.73 m3/s, included  the spring runoff –2.84 m3/s  the drainage runoff – missing  the deep runoff - 2.89 m3/s Hydrogeological exploration works had been conducted only in Gavaraget river basin, and the groundwater exploitable reserves had been evaluated on those results as of 2.06m3/s, including  categories A+B– 1.78 m3/s

3  category C1 – 0.28 m /s According to the proposed methodology, the components of groundwater usable, strategic water resources and national water reserve correspond to natural groundwater resources and equals to 5.73m3/s, of which:  the usable groundwater resources – 2.86 m3/s

40 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

 the strategic groundwater resources – 1.15 m3/s  the national groundwater reserve – 1.72 m3/s AGGREGATE OF THE GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN THE SEVAN RBD Summarizing the represented calculation areas, we can conclude the groundwater natural resources in the Sevan RBD aggregate 16.52m3/s (Table 12), including  the spring runoff –7.30 m3/s  the drainage runoff – 2.72m3/s  the deep runoff - 6.50 m3/s An aggregate of the approved groundwater resources aggregate 8.02m3/s, including

 categories A+B– 5.57 m3/s

3  category C1 – 1.64 m /s

3  category C2 – 0.80 m /s According to the proposed methodology, the components of groundwater usable, strategic water resources and national water reserve correspond to natural groundwater resources and equals to 16.52m3/s, of which:

 the usable groundwater resources – 8.26 m3/s  the strategic groundwater resources – 3.33 m3/s  the national groundwater reserve – 4.93 m3/s

41 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Table 12: Groundwater resources in the Sevan RBD

Natural (recoverable) groundwater 3 Approved exploitable Components of groundwater resources, resources, mln. m /year 3 3 3 groundwater reserves, m /s m /s m /s № River basin Calculation area Components Category Components Total Total total spring drainage deep A+B C1 C2 usable strategic national 7.29 1.45 5.48 0.36 1.Dzknaget - - - - 0.23 0.11 0.05 0.07 0.23 0.05 0.17 0.01 2.Dzknaget- 2.18 0.9 1.28 - - - - - 0.07 0.04 0.01 0.02 Drakhtik interfluve 0.07 0.03 0.04 6.08 0.72 0.72 4.64 3. Drakhtik - - - - 0.19 0.09 0.04 0.06 0.19 0.02 0.02 0.15 4. Drakhtik-Artanish 3.5 2.5 1.0 Lake Sevan - - - - - 0.11 0.06 0.02 0.03 interfluve 0.11 0.08 0.03 I Pambak- 2.08 0.32 1.13 0.63 5. Artanish - - - - 0.07 0.03 0.02 0.02 Areguni 0.07 0.01 0.04 0.02 6. Artanish-Pambak 17.19 17.19 ------0.54 0.27 0.11 0.16 interfluve 0.54 0.54 15.24 0.69 1.70 12.85 7. Pambak - - - - 0.48 0.24 0.10 0.14 0.48 0.02 0.05 0.41 53.56 6.58 9.03 37.95 Total of №№1-7 - - - - 1.69 0.84 0.35 0.50 1.69 0.21 0.28 1.20 7.32 0.35 1.99 4.98 8. Geghamasar - - - - 0.23 0.11 0.05 0.07 0.23 0.01 0.06 0.16 Lake Sevan 102.76 63.25 39.51 9. Masrik - 3.26 1.63 0.65 0.98 River Masrik 3.26 2.01 1.25 II valley 10. Karchaghbur 50.04 23.49 3.25 23.3 - - - - 1.59 0.79 0.32 0.48 (Makenis) 1.59 0.75 0.10 0.74 160.12 87.09 44.75 28.28 Total of №№8-10 3.93 2.70 1.23 - 5.08 2.53 1.02 1.53 5.08 2.77 1.41 0.90

42 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Table 12 continued

Natural (recoverable) groundwater 3 Approved exploitable Components of groundwater resources, resources, mln. m /year 3 3 3 groundwater reserves, m /s m /s m /s № River basin Calculation area Components Category Components Total Total total spring drainage deep A+B C1 C2 usable strategic national 20.18 1.77 2.68 15.73 11. Artsvanist 0.64 0.32 0.13 0.19 0.64 0.06 0.08 0.50 21.46 14.82 2.52 4.12 12. Vardenis 0.68 0.34 0.14 0.20 0.68 0.47 0.08 0.13 Martuni- 13. Vardenis- 27.68 2.83 24.85 III - 0.88 0.44 0.18 0.26 Artsvanist Argichi interfluve 0.88 0.09 0.79 14.Argichi-Upper 57.38 27.75 26.80 2.83 1.82 0.91 0.36 0.55 Getashen 1.82 0.88 0.85 0.09 126.70 47.17 32.00 47.53 Total of №№11-14 2.03 1.09 0.13 0.81 4.02 2.01 0.81 1.20 4.02 1.50 1.01 1.51 15. Argichi- 40.5 33.7 6.8 Gavaraget - 1.28 0.64 0.26 0.38 1.28 1.07 0.21 interfluve 16. Gavaraget- 109.74 55.75 53.99 Argichi- - 2.06 1.78 0.28 - 3.48 1.74 0.70 1.04 IV Noratus 3.48 1.77 1.71 Lchashen 17. Noratus- 29.6 29.6 - - 0.94 0.47 0.19 0.28 Lchashen 0.94 0.94 180.85 89.45 91.4 Total of №№15-17 - 2.06 1.78 0.28 - 5.73 2.86 1.15 1.72 5.73 2.84 2.89 521.23 230.29 85.78 205.16 Total of the Sevan RBD 8.02 5.57 1.64 0.80 16.52 8.26 3.33 4.93 16.52 7.32 2.70 6.50

43 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

10. CHANGES IN WATER DEMAND AND ABSTRACTION DUE TO DIFFERENT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PATHWAYS, CONSIDERING THE RESULTS AND ONGOING WORK OF THE EUWI+ RBMP CONTRACTS

Water use permissions provided until 2018 were processed in the two reports “Development of draft river basin management plan for Hrazdan and Sevan River Basin Districts in Armenia: part 1 - characterization phase” [14, 15]. According to the reports, as of January 2018, annually 1960.35 mnl.m3 were abstracted from water resources in the Hrazdan RBD, of which the groundwater abstraction was 783.09 mln m3 or 40%. As of January 2018, according to the water use permits, the recorded water abstraction in Sevan RBD was 284.9 mln m3. and the groundwater use was 19.5 mln. m3 (or 6.8% of total). The data obtained in characterization phase have been compared with available resources evaluated in the current report (Table 13).

Table 13: Comparison of available groundwater resource with abstraction rate in Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Hrazdan RBD, mln.m3/year Sevan RBD GW resources m3/s mln.m3/year Hrazdan RBD, Mountain m3/s Nubarashen assent zone 788.03 521.23 Renewable 25.01 16.52 394.4 405.55 260.615 12.5 12.86 8.26 Available 799.55 - 24.91 Abstraction on 783 19.5 WUP as of 2018 24.8 0.61

According to Table 13 the rate of abstraction in Hrazdan RBD is almost equal to the available resource evaluated in the current report. For Hrazdan RBD the mountainous zone has to be separated from the Ararat Artesian basin (Nubarashen assent) to understand the abstraction rate from Nubarashen ascent. GW is mainly used for drinking-household purposes, where water losses are too high as 74%.

It is necessary to revise the processed data of Water Use permits concerning groundwater component (0.61m3/s) in the Sevan RBD once again, because only for drinking water purposes the provided quantities are much more. Operational losses of groundwater is very high in Hrazdan RBD. In the course of climate change and growth of population the water shortages are expected. Therefore, the volume of water losses has to be decreased by means of obligatory installation of water measuring devices in the households of all customers. In the Hrazdan RBD, almost all available groundwater resource is distributed.

44 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

11. THE CURRENT STATE OF THE HYDROGEOLOGICAL MONITORING IN THE HRAZDAN AND SEVAN RBDS, NECESSITY FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT AND UPCOMING TASKS

11.1 The current state of the hydrogeological monitoring network and the necessity for its development in Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Natural water outlets (springs) are the main sources of groundwater exploitation in the mountain and pre-mountain zones of volcanic ridges. Catch pits are being constructed on the water outlets, and no additional excavations are needed. There are no interactions between neighbor water catchments at these conditions. However, in the case of depressions, located downhill, the interaction between the aquifer and the springs is possible. These aquifers usually consist of an alternation of the rubbly-gravel loose materials, clayey interbeds, and underlain volcanic rocks. Replenishment of aquifers occurs in mountain zone through same volcanic rocks extending up to the watershed. Aquifers are operated by wells, that can affect the springs’ flow rate located above. Such an interaction was revealed in the following hydrogeological areas: Akunk-Katnaghbyur, Ghazaravan- Bazmaghbyur in the Hrazdan RBD, and Sarukhan, Gandzak, Hatsarat in the Sevan RBD. To understand the degree of interaction, the water level alterations in the monitoring boreholes should be observed. Since 2012, in the Ararat artesian basin, closing (liquidation) and capping (conservation) works of unused wells have started. To close a well, a thick solution of cement or clay is injected into the borehole. And for capping, the wellhead is closed tightly by a valve, after which the well is blocked by a 0.5-1 m thick concrete cover. Hydrogeological monitoring network in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs consists of 33 observation points. 22 points are located in Hrazdan RBD of which 16 boreholes and 6 natural springs; in Sevan RBD 11 observation points, of which 6 boreholes and 5 springs. In the Hrazdan RBD, the boreholes are located in the lower streams of Hrazdan River, on Nubarashen assent of the Ararat artesian basin. The number of boreholes is sufficient to observe alterations of hydrogeological conditions in the area. The number of boreholes gradually increases with the growing demand in groundwater in pre- moun- tain zones. Their impact on springs which are situated in the neighborhood cannot be excluded. Hence, the existing eleven observation points-springs in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs are insufficient to evaluate alterations in the hydrogeological realm due to water abstraction by boreholes in the mountain and pre-mountain zones. There is no doubt, the number of observation points shall be increased in the mountain and pre- mountain zones. First of all, it is necessary to increase the number of observation boreholes in the territory situated between operated springs and wells. In mountainous regions, groundwater natural resources are often evaluated by taking into consideration only the flow rate of the springs, which is not sufficient, especially for the areas of volcanic ridges.

45 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

For example, in the Kasakh river basin, the runoff of springs is evaluated as much as 2.24m3/s (70.64mln.m3/year), while the deep flow is estimated as 4.46 m3/s (140.6mln.m3/year) (Annex 1, N 2). The occurrence of this part of groundwater relates to volcanic rocks, that passes into intermountain basins in the form of deep runoff. This part of groundwater is exploited from the volcanic rocks in the pre-mountain zones and lake and river rock debris in intermountain basins. The flow rate of water abstraction varies in diffeent areas, and it is variable depending on water demand. Hence, the interaction between aquifers and springs is variable as well. In practice, the evaluation of the flow rate of high capacity springs (100L/s) and their alteration tendencies with the help of flowmeters is very complicated, since their indications are fluctuating in high range because of air content and other technical factors. As a result, non-accurate flow rate values are being recorded. It is preferable to organize observations of groundwater level in the two boreholes drilled on the terrain between areas of springs and operated boreholes and at a distance of 0.5-1km from each other. The first borehole shall be located in the springs area, and the second one has to be located on a distance 0.5-1km from the first borehole towards an operated boreholes area, that is the direction of groundwater flow. The decline of the water level in the borehole situated in the zone of the spring area will indicate a decrease in the flow rate of the springs. In the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs, from 2018 to 2019, the staff of the “Environmental Monitoring and Information Centre” SNCO along with EU representatives, owing to the EU support and financing, have conducted hydrogeological field studies of 16 groundwater sources (natural water outlets and boreholes). They have studied geological-hydrogeological conditions of water sources, bodies of groundwater, water physical and chemical characteristics (taste, smell, color, temperature, flow rate, water level, etc.) during field trips. Water samples have been taken for lab analyses. We recommend to include these water sources into hydrogeological observation network in case of available funds as much as 9 mln. AMD annually.

11.2 Possible changes of the river flow in the result of groundwater abstraction in mountainous areas

The natural water outlets (springs) are the main sources of drinking water supply of the settlements of Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs. The spring is a component of groundwater, and its utilization decreases the river’s flow by the same quantity. In Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs, the water-table and confined aquifers are operated by boreholes for drinking, irrigation, fish farming, and other purposes. Both aquifers are in the immediate hydraulic linkage. Ascending pressured waters of the confined aquifers not only feed the unconfined aquifer but also discharge on the land surface in the form of springs and wetlands. These phenomena are typical for the lower streams of the Hrazdan river and Masrik river of the Sevan RBD. “Sis” and “Kapuyt” lakes in Ararat artesian basin are formed due to the discharge of ascending pressured waters in Hrazdan RBD, and the wetlands are of wide extent in the valley of the Masrik river. Non-effective usage of the confined aquifer brings to the drop of groundwater level both in confined and unconfined aquifers, decreases the flow rate of springs located in the pre-mountain zones and the wetlands are drying. Eventually the river’s flow decreases as well. These peculiarities should be considered by water management authorities for proper distribution and sustainable water management. As a result of the non-effective (over pumping) operation of the boreholes in the intermountain basins, the springs located in pre mountain zones that are of great importance (operated for the drinking water supply of the settlements) can get dry.

46 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Indeed, a decrease in groundwater level is observed in the Ararat artesian basin, the central part of which is located on the southwestern outskirts of the Hrazdan RBD or in the lower reaches of the Hrazdan River. This phenomenon is currently not detected in the Masrik Basin of Sevan RBD, because water withdrawal by wells is relatively not very high. A negative water balance within the study area is observed only in the southwestern part of the Hraz- dan RRD or in the Ararat Basin and its pre-mountain zone, which is explained by the climatic factor. To avoid possible negative consequences on time and to promote the sustainable management of water resources, it is necessary to establish the groundwater abstraction register, the expansion of the monitoring network between the zones of springs and wells, the promotion of artificial recharge through snowmelt and rains in the mountainous areas and the reduction of water supply losses.

11.3 Perspectives of hydrogeological studies and monitoring

Along with the development of humankind, including in Armenia, the need for water is gradually increasing. Here, along with different types of water consumption, drinking water supply is of primary importance. When for irrigation, technical and various types of economic activities the secondary use of water is possible, for drinking purposes the high-quality drinking water is required. Natural climatic and geological conditions, as well as the topography of Armenia, are favorable for groundwater recharge through surface runoff. In the boundaries of Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs where huge tectonic units such as Aragats massif, Geghama, and Vardenis ridges are forming more than 70% of groundwater resources of the noted RBDs, fractured volcanic rocks are of vast extent, that are represented by andesite, andesite-basalt, etc., as well as their accumulated big-blocks named “chingili”. The latter cover sufficient areas in the high-mountain zone (above 2500m) and fully absorb even the huge precipitation giving no chance to the formation of surface runoff. Partially the precipitation is percolated through fractured volcanic rocks and pores of slide-rock masses. Taking into account mentioned above, groundwater operated for drinking purposes should be used frugally and water supply losses significantly must be reduced. The surface runoff formed in the upper parts of mountain ranges, where no pollution sources exist, can be used for artificial replenishment of groundwater. It does not require large financial investments. For example, using shallow ditches, the surface runoff can be directed towards the accumulated big stones or “chingili”. In these areas, the artificial replenishment of groundwater is also possible by digging pits 3-4m deep at the bottom of the gorges, which contribute to the rapid seepage of surface water. The use of river waters for artificial replenishment of groundwater is not recommended, regardless of their degree of pollution. As far as polluted water enters the aquifer, then a long time is needed for its self-cleaning. The amount of water resources proposed by the method does not change, but only due to the surface runoff, underground runoff increases. Hence, in this case, evaporation decreases.

47 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

12. CONCLUSION

Complicated geological conditions and tectonics, a variety of lithological composition, fracturing and porosity of rocks, the relief dissected by an erosion network, along with often changing climatic zones at short distances in a vertical section determine the complex hydrogeological conditions of the Hraz- dan and Sevan RBDs. Five water-bearing hydrogeological units were distinguished, of which only two of practical interest: the water-bearing complex of the Quaternary-Recent (Q1-4) alluvial-proluvial, lacustrine sediments and the 3 Upper Pliocene-Quaternary (N2 -Q) complex of fractured volcanic rocks. In the described river basins, the bodies of groundwater with significant storage are related to these hydrogeological units. The main source of groundwater replenishment is precipitation, and also leakage out of hydro- technical constructions in small quantities. Groundwater occurrence in the mountain zone is of local behavior, while it is continuous in the intermountain basins. Evaluation methods of groundwater resources depend on groundwater recharge, development, transit and accumulation characteristics. In respect to Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs, it has been conducted by the common formula of water balance along with Separation of the river’s flow. This method has been applied to 4 calculation areas in the Hrazdan RBD and 17 areas in Sevan RBD. The values of exploitable groundwater reserves approved in special commissions (Local Commission of Reserves, State Commission of Reserves) and registered in the respective protocols were brought in the report.  usable groundwater resources - estimated at 50% of natural or renewable groundwater resources  strategic groundwater resources - estimated to be 20% of natural or renewable groundwater resources  national groundwater reserve - is estimated by the difference between natural groundwater resources and the amount of usable and strategic resources, i.e. 30% of of natural or renewable groundwater resources. The current state of hydrogeological monitoring network and its perspectives have been described, as well as hydrogeological ongoing tasks were highlighted.

48 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

13. REFERENCES

1. Technical Report ‘Support in the Delineation and Characterization of Groundwater Bodies and the Design of a Groundwater Monitoring Network in the Hrazdan and Lake Sevan River Basin Districts in Armenia’, EUWI-EASTERN-HH-06, Yerevan, November-2018 2. Common implementation strategy for the water framework directive (2000/60/EC), Guidance Document No 2, Identification of Water Bodies, European Communities, 2003 3. Surface water resources of the USSR, main hydrological characteristics, second edition, Ar- menia, 1967 4. Annual data on the regime and surface water resources, 1982-1984, part 1 - rivers and canals, part 2 - lakes and reservoirs, volume XIII 5. Atlas of natural conditions and natural resources of the Republic of Armenia, Hydrology, Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, 1990 6. Natural and exploitable resources of fresh groundwater of Armenia, Republican geological fund, state registration number 01365, Yerevan, 1976 7. Basics of hydrogeology, Hydro geodynamics, “Science”, Novosibirsk 1983, p. 223 8. Technical project of the 1st stage of the AIS GVK for the division of groundwater, M-1983, general concepts, p-103 9. Common Implementation Strategy For The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), Guid- ance document No. 18, Guidance on groundwater status and trend assessment, Luxemburg, 2009 10. Guidance document on the application of water balances for supporting the implementation of the WFD, Version 6.1 – 18/05/2015 11. Armenia’s Third National Communication on Climate Change, Yerevan, 2015, 165 p. 12. The Socio-Economic Impact of Climate Change in Armenia, UNDP, Yerevan, 2009, 139p. 13. The Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C (SR15] of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on 8 October 2018 14. “Development of draft river basin management plan for Hrazdan River Basin Districts in Ar- menia: part 1 - characterization phase”. Jinj ltd, 2018 15. “Development of draft river basin management plan for Sevan River Basin Districts in Arme- nia: part 1 - characterization phase”, Geocom, Ltd, 2018 16. Directive 2006/118/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 12 December 2006 on the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration, 17. Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 23 October 2000, es- tablishing a framework for community action in the field of water policy

49 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

ANNEXES

50 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Annex 1: Water balance in the Hrazdan RBD

Precipitation Evaporation Drainage Surface Surface Springs Deep runoff,

River basin or runoff, runoff,

№ area, runoff, mln. mln. 2 interfluve area 2 mln. mln. 3 mln. mln. 3 km m /year 3 3 m /year mm 3 mm 3 m /year m /year

m /year m /year

/s·km

Elevation intervalsfor calculation, m Surface runoff modulus, l >3200 19.4 801 15.54 180 3.5 - - - - 3200-2800 70.7 719 50.83 231 16.3 - - - - Amberd- 2800 -2400 72.6 667 48.4 254 18.4 - - - - Shahverd 1 2400-2000 95.7 605 57.9 310 29.7 - - - - M*=0.81 2000-1600 106.8 478 51.0 355 37.9 - - - - <1600 53.0 408 21.6 385 20.4 - - - - Total 418.2 245.4 126.4 46.98 - 10.64 -61.38 >3200 32 900 28.8 150 4.8 - - - - 3200-2800 64 850 54.4 190 12.1 - - - -

Kasakh- 2800 -2400 100 776 77.6 272 27.2 - - - - - 2 Ashtarak 2400-2000 438 663 290.3 277 121.2 - - - - 2000-1600 262 605 158.5 321 84.0 - - - - 1600-1200 44 475 20.9 416 18.3 - - - - Total 940 630.5 267.6 70.64 29.33 122.36 -140.6 3200-2800 14 755 10.6 239 3.35 - - - -

2800 -2400 210 757 159.0 280 58.7 - - - - Hrazdan-Arzni 2400-2000 356 702 303 108.8 - - - - resort 249.9 3 - 2000-1600 572 653 373.5 352 201.1 - - - - 1600-1200 90 612 55.1 350 31.55 - - - -

1242 849.15 402.5 114.16 158.31 211.60 +37.42 Total

51 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Annex 1 continued

Precipitation Evaporation Draiange Surface Surface Springs Deep runoff,

River basin or runoff, runoff,

№ area, runoff, mln. mln. 2 interfluve area 2 mln. mln. 3 mln. mln. 3 km m /year 3 3 m /year mm 3 mm 3 m /year m /year

m /year m /year

urface

Elevation intervalsfor calculation, m S runoff modulus, l/s·km 3200-2800 60 950 57.0 200 12.0 - - - - Western slopes 2800 -2400 64 850 54.4 250 16.0 - - - - of Geghama 2400-2000 148 750 111.0 325 48.1 - - - - M= 1.05 4 ridge 2000-1600 124 650 80.6 400 49.6 - - - - <1600 78 525 40.95 450 35.1 - - - - Total - 474 343.95 160.8 88.83 - 15.7 -78.6

M * - modulus of the surface runoff (L/s ×km2), it is determined from the “Map of the rivers flow modulus of Armenia“ [5].

Notes: (-) outflow (+) inflow from adjacent basins

52 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Annex 2: Water balance in the Lake Sevan RBD

Precipitation Evaporation

2 Draiange Surface Surface Springs runoff, Deep runoff, River basin or runoff, runoff, № area, mln. mln. interfluve area 2 mln. mln. 3 mln. mln. 3 km mm 3 mm 3 m /year 3 3 m /year

m /year m /year m /year m /year

Elevationintervals m forcalculation, Surfacerunoff modulus, l/s·km 2800 -2400 8 700 5.6 275 2.2 - - - - Dzknaget 2400-2000 66 700 46.2 300 19.8 - - - - 1 - <2000 12 600 7.2 400 4.8 - - - - Total - 86 - 59.0 - 26.8 1.45 5.48 24.91 -0.36 Dzknaget- 2400-2000 36 450 16.2 400 14.4 - - - - Drakhtik 2 interfluve area <2000 16 500 8.0 350 5.6 - - - - M= 1.23 Total - 52 - 24.2 - 20 0.9 - 2.02 -1.28 2800-2400 12 600 7.2 300 3.6 - - - - Drakhtik 2400-2000 24 575 13.8 300 7.2 - - - - 3 - <2000 4 500 2.0 325 1.3 - - - - Total - 40 - 23.0 - 12.1 0.72 0.72 4.82 -4.64 2800-2400 8 500 4.0 300 2.6 - - - - Drakhtik- Artanish 2400-2000 48 475 22.8 350 16.8 - - - - 4 interfluve area M= 1.29 <2000 40 400 - 400 - - - - - Total - 96 - 26.8 - 19.4 2.5 - 3.9 -1.0 2800-2400 6 550 3.3 300 - - - - -

Artanish 2400-2000 4 500 2 300 - - - - - 5 - <2000 2 475 0.95 350 - - - - - Total - 12 - 6.25 - 3.7 0.32 1.13 0.47 -0.63

53 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Annex 2 continued

Precipitation Evaporation 2

Draiange Surface Surface Springs runoff, Deep runoff, River basin or runoff, runoff, № area, mln. mln. interfluve area 2 mln. mln. 3 mln. mln. 3 km mm 3 mm 3 m /year 3 3 m /year

m /year m /year m /year m /year

Elevation intervalsfor m calculation, Surface runoff modulus, l/s·km 2800-2400 28 550 15.4 300 8.4 - - - - Artanish- Pambak 2400-2000 64 500 32.0 300 19.2 - - - - 6 interfluve area M= 1.27 <2000 18 450 8.1 350 6.3 - - - - Total - 110 55.5 33.9 - - 4.41 -17.19 3200-2800 12 600 7.2 300 3.6 - - - - 2800-2400 32 525 16.8 300 6.4 - - - - Pambak 7 2400-2000 48 450 21.6 350 16.8 - - - - - <2000 28 400 - 400 - - - - - Total 2000-3200 120 45.6 26.8 0.69 1.70 3.56 -12.85 >3200 15.87 524 8.31 (2.1) 3.36 - - - - 2800-2400 11.22 483 5.42 (286) 3.21 - - - - Geghamasar - 8 2400-2000 19.04 392 7.46 (294) 5.59 - - - -

<2000 2.6 277 0.72 (270) 0.7 - - - - Total - 48.73 21.91 12.86 0.35 1.99 1.73 -4.98 >3200 4.3 583 2.5 273 1.16 - - - -

3200-2800 33.9 598 20.29 (255) 8.66 - - - -

Masrik 2800-2400 202.8 554 112.44 (262) 53.03 - - - - 9 - 2400-2000 339.7 478 162.37 (315) 106.9 - - - - < 2000 93.7 384 35.98 381 35.69 - - - - Total - 674.4 - 333.58 - 205.44 63.25 39.51 39.67 +13.3

54 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Annex 2 continued

Precipitation Evaporation 2

Drainage Surface Surface Springs runoff, Deep runoff, River basin or runoff, runoff, № area, mln. mln. interfluve area 2 mln. mln. 3 mln. mln. 3 km mm 3 mm 3 m /year 3 3 m /year

m /year m /year m /year m /year

Elevation intervalsfor m calculation, Surface runoff modulus, l/s·km >3200 7.4 895 6.62 238 1.76 - - - - 3200-2800 41.9 872 36.52 (246) 10.29 - - - - Makenis 2800-2400 55.4 717 39.72 (304) 16.82 - - - - 10 - 2400-2000 50.6 552 27.91 (412) 20.83 - - - - <2000 2.53 435 1.1 (431) 1.09 - - - - Total 157.83 111.87 50.79 23.49 3.25 11.04 -23.3 >3200 4 900 3.6 200 0.8 - - - - 3200-2800 18 850 15.3 225 4.05 - - - - Artsvanist 11 2800-2400 8 750 13.5 300 5.4 - - - - - 2400-2000 32 650 20.8 350 11.2 - - - - Total 72 53.2 21.45 1.77 2.68 11.57 -15.73 >3200 6 900 5.4 200 1.20 - - - -

3200-2800 42 850 35.7 225 9.4 - - - - Vardenis 12 2800-2400 40 750 30 300 12.0 - - - - - 2400-2000 36 650 23.4 350 12.6 - - - - Total 124 94.5 35.2 14.82 2.52 37.8 -4.12

55 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Annex 2 continued

Precipitation Evaporation 2

Drainage Surface

Surface Springs runoff, Deep runoff, /s·km River basin or runoff, runoff, № area, mln. mln. interfluve area 2 mln. mln. 3 mln. mln. 3 km mm 3 mm 3 m /year 3 3 m /year

m /year m /year m /year m /year

Elevation intervalsfor m calculation, Surface runoff modulus, l >3200 18 850 15.3 250 - - - - -

Vardenis-Argichi 3200-2800 40 800 32.0 275 - - - - - 13 interfluve area 2800-2400 62 700 43.4 300 - - - - - M= 6.52 2400-2000 76 500 38.0 350 - - - - - Total 196 128.7 60.7 2.83 - 40.32 -24.85 >3200 8 850 6.8 200 1.60 - - - - 3200-2800 34 800 27.2 225 8.65 - - - - Argichi-Upper 14 Getashen 2800-2400 146 725 105.85 250 36.5 - - - - -

2400-2000 178 650 115.7 300 53.4 - - - - Total 366 255.55 99.15 27.75 26.80 99.02 -2.83 >3200 8 825 6.6 200 1.6 - - - - 3200-2800 40 750 30.0 250 10.0 - - - - Argichi- Gavaraget 2800-2400 64 675 45.2 300 19.2 - - - - 15 interfluve area M= 2.74 2400-2000 144 575 82.8 350 50.4 - - - - <2000 60 450 - 450 - - - - - Total 316 162.6 81.2 33.7 - 40.9 -6.8

56 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Annex 2 continued

Precipitation Evaporation 2

Drainage Surface

Surface Springs runoff, Deep runoff, /s·km River basin or runoff, runoff, № area, mln. mln. interfluve area 2 mln. mln. 3 mln. mln. 3 km mm 3 mm 3 m /year 3 3 m /year

m /year m /year m /year m /year

Elevation intervalsfor m calculation, Surface runoff modulus, l >3200 12 950 11.4 200 2.4 - - - - 3200-2800 76 850 64.6 200 15.2 - - - - Gavaraget- 2800-2400 96 750 72.0 250 24 - - - - 16 Noratus - 2400-2000 192 600 115.2 325 62.4 - - - - <2000 24 475 11.4 400 9.6 - - - - Total 400 274.6 113.6 55.75 - 51.26 -53.99 2800-2400 28 700 19.6 250 7.0 - - - - Noratus- Lchashen 2400-2000 156 550 85.8 325 5.7 - - - - 17 - <2000 60 450 27.0 400 24.0 - - - - Total - 244 - 132.4 - 81.7 - - 21.1 -29.6

Notes: (-) outflow (+) inflow from adjacent basins

57 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Annex 3: Separation of the rivers flow in the Hrazdan RBD

Average long-term recovered monthly flow rate, m3/s Component of the river flow Annual I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII average, m3/s

1. Separation of the Kasakh river flow at Ashtarak gauging section the river flow 3.55 3.85 5.61 17.32 13.78 10.99 8.08 6.17 4.94 3.8 3.09 3.42 7.05 the spring runoff 1.86 1.78 1.85 2.15 2.48 2.48 2.8 2.48 2.35 2.28 2.15 2.25 2.24 variation coefficient 0.87 0.83 0.86 1.00 1.15 1.15 1.30 1.15 1.09 1.06 1.00 1.05 - the drainage runoff 0.81 0.78 0.81 0.94 1.08 1.08 1.22 1.08 1.03 1.00 0.94 0.98 0.98 the river’s groundwater flow 2.67 2.56 2.66 3.09 3.56 3.56 4.02 3.56 3.38 3.28 3.09 3.23 3.22 the surface runoff 0.88 1.29 2.95 14.23 10.22 7.43 4.06 2.61 1.56 0.52 0.00 0.19 3.83 2. Separation of the Hrazdan river flow at Arzni gauging point the river flow 8.52 8.84 11.09 34.48 35.7 20.85 12.86 10.81 10.5 9.07 10.27 9.13 15.18 the spring runoff 3.57 3.57 3.57 3.57 3.61 3.61 3.64 3.68 3.68 3.68 3.64 3.61 3.62 variation coefficient 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.01 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.02 1.01 - the drainage runoff 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 5.0 5.0 5.05 5.10 5.10 5.10 5.05 5.0 5.02 the river’s groundwater flow 8.52 8.52 8.52 8.52 8.61 8.61 8.69 8.78 8.78 8.78 8.69 8.61 8.64 the surface runoff 0.0 0.32 2.57 25.96 28.09 12.24 4.17 2.03 1.72 1.29 1.58 0.52 6.71

58 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Annex 4: Separation of the rivers flow in the Lake Sevan RBD

Average long-term recovered monthly flow rate, m3/s Annual Component of the river flow 3 average, m /s I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII

1. Separation of the Dzknaget river flow at Tsovagyugh gauging section

the river flow 0.16 0.18 0.41 3.79 3.97 1.77 0.57 0.29 0.26 0.27 0.24 0.21 1.01 the spring runoff 0.034 0.031 0.034 0.04 0.048 0.056 0.056 0.062 0.054 0.055 0.048 0.043 0.05 variation coefficient 1.00 0.91 1.00 1.18 1.41 1.65 1.65 1.82 1.59 1.62 1.41 1.26 the drainage runoff 0.126 0.115 0.126 0.148 0.178 0.208 0.208 0.230 0.200 0.204 0.178 0.159 0.17

the river’s groundwater flow 0.160 0.146 0.160 0.188 0.226 0.264 0.264 0.292 0.254 0.259 0.226 0.202 0.22 the surface runoff 0.000 0.034 0.250 3.602 3.744 1.506 0.306 0.000 0.006 0.011 0.014 0.008 0.79 2. Separation of the Drakhtik river flow at Drakhtik gauging section the river flow 0.074 0.077 0.15 0.5 0.41 0.38 0.25 0.188 0.17 0.054 0.061 0.069 0.199 the spring runoff 0.017 0.015 0.017 0.02 0.024 0.028 0.028 0.031 0.027 0.027 0.024 0.021 0.023 variation coefficient 0.63 0.56 0.63 0.74 0.89 1.04 1.04 1.15 1.00 1.00 0.89 0.78 the drainage runoff 0.017 0.015 0.017 0.020 0.024 0.028 0.028 0.031 0.027 0.027 0.024 0.021 0.023 the river’s groundwater flow 0.034 0.030 0.034 0.040 0.048 0.056 0.056 0.062 0.054 0.054 0.048 0.042 0.047 the surface runoff 0.040 0.047 0.116 0.460 0.362 0.324 0.194 0.000 0.116 0.000 0.013 0.027 0.142 3. Separation of the Artanish river flow at Artanish gauging section the river flow 0.033 0.036 0.049 0.105 0.075 0.082 0.07 0.066 0.064 0.058 0.048 0.043 0.061 the spring runoff 0.007 0.006 0.007 0.008 0.01 0.012 0.012 0.013 0.011 0.011 0.01 0.009 0.010 variation coefficient 1.00 0.86 1.00 1.14 1.43 1.71 1.71 1.86 1.57 1.57 1.43 1.29 the drainage runoff 0.026 0.022 0.026 0.030 0.037 0.045 0.045 0.048 0.041 0.041 0.037 0.033 0.036

the river’s groundwater flow 0.033 0.028 0.033 0.038 0.047 0.057 0.057 0.061 0.052 0.052 0.047 0.042 0.046 the surface runoff 0.000 0.008 0.016 0.067 0.028 0.025 0.013 0.000 0.012 0.006 0.001 0.001 0.015

59 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Annex 4 continued

3 Average long-term recovered monthly flow rate, m /s Annual Component of the river flow 3 I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII average, m /s 4. Separation of the Pambak river flow at Pambak gauging section the river flow 0.076 0.077 0.114 0.52 0.57 0.34 0.18 0.13 0.094 0.091 0.087 0.082 0.197 the spring runoff 0.022 0.021 0.021 0.021 0.022 0.021 0.022 0.024 0.023 0.024 0.021 0.020 0.022 variation coefficient 1.00 0.96 0.96 0.96 1.00 0.96 1.00 1.10 1.05 1.10 0.96 0.91 - the drainage runoff 0.054 0.052 0.052 0.052 0.054 0.052 0.054 0.059 0.057 0.059 0.052 0.049 0.054 the river’s groundwater flow 0.076 0.073 0.073 0.073 0.076 0.073 0.076 0.083 0.080 0.083 0.073 0.069 0.076 the surface runoff 0.00 0.004 0.041 0.347 0.494 0.267 0.104 0.047 0.014 0.008 0.014 0.013 0.113 5. Separation of the Geghamasar river flow at Geghamasar gauging section the river flow 0.049 0.067 0.07 0.106 0.292 0.30 0.155 0.127 0.091 0.096 0.099 0.091 0.129 the spring runoff 0.007 0.008 0.011 0.012 0.014 0.016 0.014 0.013 0.011 0.009 0.009 0.008 0.011 variation coefficient 1.00 1.14 1.57 1.71 2.0 2.28 2.0 1.86 1.57 1.28 1.28 1.14 - the drainage runoff 0.042 0.048 0.066 0.072 0.084 0.095 0.084 0.078 0.066 0.035 0.035 0.048 0.063 the river’s groundwater flow 0.049 0.056 0.070 0.084 0.098 0.111 0.098 0.091 0.077 0.044 0.044 0.056 0.074 the surface runoff 0.00 0.011 0.00 0.022 0.194 0.189 0.057 0.036 0.014 0.052 0.055 0.035 0.055 6. Separation of the Masrik river flow at Tsovak gauging section the river flow 3.171 3.078 3.372 5.719 8.115 6.539 4.935 4.537 4.003 3.614 3.464 3.271 4.485 the spring runoff 1.851 1.894 1.911 2.016 2.226 2.278 2.166 2.095 1.923 1.908 1.889 1.834 1.999 variation coefficient 0.98 1.00 1.01 1.06 1.18 1.20 1.14 1.11 1.02 1.01 1.00 0.97 the drainage runoff 1.157 1.184 1.195 1.260 1.392 1.424 1.354 1.310 1.202 1.193 1.181 1.146 1.250 the river’s groundwater flow 3.008 3.078 3.106 3.276 3.618 3.702 3.520 3.405 3.125 3.101 3.070 2.980 3.249 the surface runoff 0.163 0.000 0.266 2.443 4.497 2.837 1.415 0.000 0.878 0.513 0.394 0.291 1.141

60 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Annex 4 continued

3 Average long-term recovered monthly flow rate, m /s Annual Component of the river flow 3 I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII average, m /s 7. Separation of the Karchaxbyur river flow at Karchaghbyur gauging section the river flow 0.78 0.81 0.83 1.10 2.01 2.35 1.63 1.28 0.89 0.88 0.92 0.91 1.20 the spring runoff 0.685 0.68 0.701 0.75 0.813 0.77 0.794 0.785 0.773 0.752 0.727 0.71 0.745 variation coefficient 1.00 0.993 1.024 1.095 1.187 1.128 1.15 1.146 1.128 1.038 1.061 1.036 - the drainage runoff 0.095 0.094 0.097 0.104 0.113 0.107 0.110 0.109 0.107 0.104 0.101 0.098 0.103 the river’s groundwater flow 0.780 0.774 0.798 0.854 0.926 0.877 0.904 0.894 0.880 0.856 0.828 0.808 0.85 the surface runoff 0.00 0.036 0.032 0.246 1.084 1.470 0.726 0.366 0.01 0.024 0.092 0.102 0.35

8. Separation of the Artsvanist river flow at Artsvanist gauging section the river flow 0.168 0.177 0.193 0.457 1.10 1.626 1.024 0.693 0.146 0.162 0.177 0.173 0.508 the spring runoff 0.055 0.054 0.054 0.055 0.056 0.053 0.055 0.061 0.058 0.061 0.055 0.052 0.056 variation coefficient 0.95 0.93 0.93 0.95 0.97 0.91 0.95 1.06 1.00 1.06 0.95 0.9 - the drainage runoff 0.084 0.082 0.083 0.084 0.085 0.080 0.084 0.093 0.088 0.093 0.084 0.078 0.085 the river’s groundwater flow 0.139 0.136 0.137 0.139 0.141 0.133 0.139 0.154 0.146 0.154 0.139 0.130 0.141 the surface runoff 0.029 0.041 0.056 0.318 0.959 1.493 0.885 0.539 0.00 0.008 0.038 0.032 0.367 9. Separation of the Vardenis river flow at Vardenis gauging section the river flow 0.61 0.59 0.62 1.49 5.36 5.95 2.78 1.00 0.67 0.69 0.62 0.60 1.75 the spring runoff 0.46 0.50 0.50 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.47 variation coefficient 0.92 1.00 1.00 0.92 0.92 0.92 0.92 0.92 0.92 0.92 0.92 0.92 - the drainage runoff 0.08 0.09 0.09 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 the river’s groundwater flow 0.54 0.59 0.59 0.54 0.54 0.54 0.54 0.54 0.54 0.54 0.54 0.54 0.55 the surface runoff 0.07 0.00 0.03 0.95 4.82 5.41 2.24 0.46 0.13 0.15 0.08 0.06 1.20

61 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Annex 4 continued

3 Average long-term recovered monthly flow rate, m /s Annual Component of the river flow 3 I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII average, m /s 10. Separation of the Argichi river flow at Upper Getashen gauging section the river flow 2.09 2.07 2.2 12.43 16.91 8.64 3.04 1.9 2.13 2.67 2.22 2.17 4.873 the spring runoff 0.88 0.85 0.85 0.87 0.89 0.84 0.88 0.97 0.93 0.97 0.87 0.82 0.885 variation coefficient 0.91 0.88 0.88 0.90 0.92 0.87 0.91 1.00 0.96 1.00 0.90 0.85 the drainage runoff 0.844 0.815 0.815 0.834 0.853 0.805 0.844 0.930 0.892 0.930 0.834 0.786 0.849 the river’s groundwater flow 1.724 1.665 1.665 1.704 1.743 1.645 1.724 1.900 1.822 1.900 1.704 1.606 1.734 10.72 the surface runoff 0.366 0.405 0.535 15.167 6.995 1.316 0.000 0.308 0.770 0.516 0.564 3.139 6

62 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Annex 4: Hydrographs of the rivers in the Hrazdan RBD

63 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Annex 4: Hydrographs of the rivers in the Sevan RBD

64 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

65 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

66 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

67 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

68 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Annex 5: Approved fresh groundwater exploitable reserves for individual terrains (deposits) in the Hrazdan RBD Approved exploitable reserves on categories, L/s prevailing anions № Name of the terrain mineralization, g/L A B C1 C2 total

Kasakh River Basin

Aparan-Kuchak HCO− 1. a) springs 630.8 131.9 - - 762.7 3 0.17 - 0.33 g/L b) boreholes 246.5 - - - 246.5

Artashavan HCO− 2. - 128.2 106.5 236.0 470.7 3 a) springs 0.6 g/L

Nazrevan (Ghazaravan)

a) boreholes - 311.6 - - 311.6 HCO− 3. 3 0.6 g/L b) springs 442.1 13.9 - - 456.0 c) Springs in the terrain of - 30.1 - - 30.1 Aparan-Ashtarak Shor-Shor HCO− 4. a) boreholes - 155.0 125.9 51.6 332.5 3 0.3 - 0.7 g/L b) springs 700.0 700.0 Karbi HCO− 5. - 364.1 229.9 - 594 3 a) boreholes 0.2 - 0.5 g/L Rafi-gyol HCO− 6. - 15.2 - - 15.2 3 a) springs 0.1 - 0.5 g/L Aragats-Jarjaris HCO− 7. 112.3 70.5 - 1791.2 1974 3 a) boreholes 0.17 - 0.44 g/L Aggregate for Kasakh river 2131.7 1220.5 462.3 2078.8 5893.3 basin Hrazdan River Basin

− The terrains of Yerevan HCO3 Hydroelectric plant and Lake 0.37 - 0.77 g/L 8. 707.0 - - - 707.0 Yerevan Lake terrain: 0.947 - a) springs 1.71 g/L

HCO− Atarbekyan 3 9. 495 - 97 - 592.0 0.47 g/L a) springs

Makravan HCO− 10. a) springs 765 212 257 - 1234 3 0.3 - 0.5 g/L b) boreholes 378 - 172 - 550

69 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Annex 5 continued

Approved exploitable reserves on categories, L/s prevailing anions № Name of the terrain mineralization, g/L A B C1 C2 total HCO− 11. Ulashik’s Springs N 39 - 1.7 2.83 - 4.53 3 0.12 g/L Katnaghbyur’s groundwater

runoff: a) Akunk’s springss 1597.2 - - - 1597.2

− b) Mayakovski’s 3 boreholess - - 170 - 170 HCO3 12. 0.1 - 0.5 g/L c) Katnaghbyur’s 4 boreholess 380 - - - 380

d) Arinj’s boreholess - - 150 - 150

e) Akunk’s N865 boreholes - 18.8 - - 18.8

Dzoraghbyur HCO− 13. a) springs 68.2 - - - 68.2 3 0.47 g/L b) boreholes 169.2 103.8 42.9 - 315.9 Aggregate for the Hrazdan river basin’s mountain and 4559.6 366.3 891.73 - 5817.63 pre-mountain zones Aggregate for the Hrazdan RBD’s mountain and pre- 6691.3 1586.8 1354.03 2078.8 11710.93 mountain zones Lower streams of the Hrazdan river basin, 11237.2 1625.0 - 11237.4 24100 Nubarashens assent of Ararat Artesian Basin Kasakh and Hrazdan River Basins

Aggregate for the Hrazdan 17928.5 3211.8 1354.03 13316.2 35810.53 RBD

70 Available groundwater resources in the Hrazdan and Sevan RBDs

Annex 6: Approved fresh groundwater exploitable reserves for individual terrains (deposits) in the Sevan RBD

Approved exploitable reserves on categories, L/s prevailing anions № Name of the terrain mineralization, g/L A B C1 C2 total Masrik basin

Gexamasar-Masrik-Makenis river basins a) boreholess 98.4 - 962.9 - 1061.3 HCO− 1 3 b) springss (Lusakunk, Khachaghbyur, 0.11 - 0.32 g/L Karchaghbyur, Akunk, Lchavan, 1508.2 1090.3 - - 2598.5 Koshabulagh) c) other springs by small flow rates - - 269.7 - 269.7

Martuni-Artsvanist

a) boreholes HCO− 2 534.1 26.8 129.4 808.4 1498.7 3 /confined and unconfined aquifers/ 0.15 – 0.62 g/L

a) springs 480.3 - - - 480.3

Sarnaghbyur HCO− 3 49.5 - - - 49.5 3 a) springs 0.11 g/L

Sarukhan a) springs (Hacarat, Sarukhan, Gavar, HCO− 4 1098 340 - - 1438 3 Gegharquniq, Lanjaghbyur, Gandzak) up to 0.6 g/L b) boreholes (Gandzak, Sarukhan, - 342 276 - 618 Noratus) Total for Sevan RBD 3768.5 1799.1 1638.0 808.4 8014