Armenian village supplied with safe water as mercury contamination investigation continues

Residents of Tsav in Armenia’s Syunik Province are being provided with a safe water supply as authorities investigate elevated mercury levels detected in the settlement’s tap water, Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan said Thursday.

Avanesyan said that a working group led by Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan is working to determine the cause of the mercury contamination and carry out control testing.

“Until the operational commission discusses these issues, the residents of the community are provided with a safe water supply. We will report the results,” Avanesyan said at a press briefing. 

Avanesyan also addressed the situation in Byureghavan, where water quality is being monitored daily following several recent incidents in which residents sought emergency medical assistance with gastrointestinal symptoms.

Avanesyan said that water monitoring is being carried out daily in Byureghavan and that the Ministry of Health is paying close attention to water quality.

“It is not only the Ministry of Health that is carrying out monitoring. As you know, each agency has its own scope of responsibility. But we, through the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, are conducting enhanced monitoring during this period. At this point, we are not recording any deviations. The daily monitoring will continue,” Avanesyan said.

The minister noted that programs to improve and renovate water infrastructure are being actively implemented throughout Armenia by the relevant authorities.