Water supply needs to be more affordable - premier 

ArmInfo. "We have big problems in the water supply sector. And this is the area where we must show  political will and make decisions," Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on February 1 at a cabinet meeting, pointing out that the authorities' efforts should be aimed at providing people with water,  and not at curbing prices.

According to the prime minister, the population of Armenia should  reconsider their attitude towards water.  "This is the same thing if  we now go to a Mercedes showroom, take out 100 thousand drams and ask  for a good car. They will laugh at us. We have almost the same  attitude towards water. We give 12 drams and demand in return  drinking water, water for irrigation and something else, around the  clock," he noted.

From January 1, 2017, the new single water operator - the French  company "Veolia Djur" - a subsidiary of the French Veolia Enviroment  SA, took over the management of the property of five existing  operators for a period of 15 years: "Yerevan-Jur", "Armvodokanal",  "Shirak Vodokanal" ", "Lori Vodokanal" and "Nor Akunk". At the same  time, from January 1, 2017, a unified water tariff was established  across the republic, and for residents of Yerevan it was increased  from 170.256 drams per 1 cubic meter of water to 180 drams, including  VAT. Participants in the process hastened to assure the citizens of  the Republic of Armenia that this increase is based on their own  interests, since the funds will be used to improve the system and  expand the service network. After the announcement of the tender  results, the company presented basic tariffs for 15 years, which are  adjusted based on 3 factors - depending on the electricity tariff,  inflation rate, and the volume of retail supplies in the water supply  sector.