Advancing Wastewater Management Solutions to Restore Lake Sevan

October 27, 2025

ADB-CDIA will begin a project preparation study (PPS) with Gavar City and Armenia’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure to help revitalize Lake Sevan, Armenia’s largest freshwater body and a vital ecological and economic resource.

Set for Q4 of 2025 under the Sevan Sanitation and Environmental Reform Program (SSERP), the PPS will focus on upgrading wastewater infrastructure and restoring the lake’s ecological balance.

Lake Sevan has long been under threat from severe pollution and declining water levels. In response, the government has implemented reforms to enhance water supply, irrigation, and wastewater management, thereby ensuring reliable, safe, affordable, and sustainable water and sanitation services for the surrounding communities.

Currently, centralized wastewater treatment plants in Gavar, Martuni, and Vardenis serve approximately 28,000 residents but rely solely on mechanical treatment. As a result, effluents with high levels of phosphorus and organic pollutants are discharged into Lake Sevan, posing serious risks of eutrophication and endangering one of the region’s most valued natural and tourism assets. This calls for the adoption of modern biological treatment technologies, specifically sequencing batch reactor systems.

In support of ongoing reforms, ADB, through Technical Assistance 10148-ARM, completed a basin-wide pre-feasibility assessment and preliminary design for the expansion of the sewerage network in the basin. The study found that restoring the entire basin would require investments beyond those outlined in Armenia’s medium-term expenditure framework. This prompted the government to apply for support from ADB-CDIA to carry out a PPS in coordination with TA 10148-ARM and other related initiatives.

The PPS will deliver a comprehensive feasibility study to assess wastewater treatment needs and pollution reduction options. It will also develop a phased investment plan, identify priority investments and necessary policy reforms, prepare engineering designs, and conduct due diligence to inform potential ADB financing. Additionally, the project will develop strategies for stakeholder engagement to promote public and institutional ownership.

Procurement for the PPS is currently underway, with implementation expected to begin by the end of the year–marking a critical step toward restoring Lake Sevan’s ecological health and resilience.