50% of Water Supplied by Yerevan Djur is Lost

About a year ago, Yerevan Djur CJSC, the Armenian subsidiary of Veolia Water that manages Yerevan’s water and sewerage systems of Yerevan, conducted studies in 113 multi-residential buildings in the Armenian capital which showed that the company loses about 50% of its supplied water. In 2010, the company closed the year with a 82–83% loss, said Yerevan Djur Director of Customer Relations Gagik Margaryan, speaking to journalists today.

Asked who is responsible for the loss of water, Margaryan said the company he represents operates only one part of the whole system.

“Estimated in that loss is the whole bulk. We’re just saying that our experience shows that approximately 50% is lost in multi-residential buildings — from the water meter at the entrance [of the building] till the consumer. But until the water meter, there’s a section that’s not ours.

“Presently that loss falls on the company, roughly speaking,” he said, adding that such losses affect the rates: “Naturally, there’s a chain.”

Consumer water rates are adjusted according to four factors: the amount of water used, the cost of electricity, inflation and the euro/dollar exchange rate. The Yerevan Djur representative noted, taking all factors into consideration, the rate turns out to be 176.06 drams (about $0.48) per cubic meter. “Last year, the rate was 195 drams, but the consumer paid 181 drams.”

Currently, according to Margaryan, the company plans to reduce prices for consumers by 6 drams and for companies, 20 drams. The new rates will be effect beginning on July 8.