IWRA Proceedings

AbstractRepublic of Armenia is a landlocked country with an area of 29,800 km2. Armenia lies completely in the Kura-Araks River basin. The Araks River marks the border between Turkey and Armenia, and further between Iran and Armenia, before flowing into Azerbaijan, where it flows into the Kura River. The Araks River basin covers 22,790 km2 in Armenia and drains 76.6% of the territory. The tributaries flowing directly into the Kura River in the north-east drain less than 23% of the country. There are 9480 small and medium rivers in Armenia of 23000 km length, including 14 rivers exceeding the length of 35 km, and 379 rivers exceeding the length of 10 km. Total average annual flow is 6250 m3, including 3029 m3 originating from springs and ground water. Renewable surface water resources excluding Lake Sevan amount to 7190 million m3. The Republic of Armenia annually uses 940 million m3 from the trans-boundary rivers of Araks and Akhuryan. An annual assessment of ground water amounts to 4017 million m3, including 1595 million m3 originated as springs, and 1434 m3 discharged to rivers and lakes. Ground water inflow amounts to 1193 million m3, and outflow – 1068 m3. Total annual flow of mineral waters amounts to 22 million m3, including 8.8 million m3 of high quality. The 15000 m3 is annually used for bottling, and the 25000 m3 – for medical purposes. Actually 0.05% of the total annual flow is being used. There are 74 water storage reservoirs constructed with a total capacity of 988 million m3. 400 million m3 could be additionally stored within existing 10 incomplete water storage reservoirs. It is known that water resources in the country are limited, and their use should be proportional and efficient. Action planning and implementation in the water sector should be coordinated and combined for all the sectors. Thus it was a priority issue to set up a State Water Cadastre, the basis of its maintenance, as well as creation of a water sector related dynamic database for long-term planning of water resources availability and use as a component of a multi-nature cadastre system. With this respect the relevant order on approval of a procedure for registration of documents in the state cadastre and provision of information was adopted by the Minister of Nature Protection. Authors presented the approaches toward establishment of the State Water Cadastre system and is futher maintenance and update. State Water Cadastre is considered to be a huge comprehensive database containing information on both quantity and quality of water resources as well as existing hydrotechnical structures (reservoirs, water supply pipelines, canals, wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations, diversion facilities, etc.). Cadaster should include information on main water use directions in Armenia, such as irrigation, municipal and industrial water supply, hydropower, fish-farming and recreation, as well as provides data on sectoral water demand and supply. Cadaster should also contain data on both legal and administrative aspects of water management as well as institutional responsibilities.