ADB–CDIA Experts Begin Work for the Sevan Sanitation and Environmental Reform Program
March 30, 2026
ADB–CDIA has mobilized a team of consultants from the Suez Group to support the Sevan Sanitation and Environmental Reform Program. This initiative aims to protect Lake Sevan by improving its water quality and quantity while addressing severe pollution through the adoption of modern biological wastewater treatment technologies.
As part of the CDIA-supported project preparation study (PPS), the consultants will conduct a comprehensive feasibility study to assess wastewater management needs and pollution-reduction options. They will develop a phased investment plan, including first-phase investments and associated policy reforms, prepare engineering designs for priority investments, and conduct due diligence to inform potential ADB financing. Additionally, the consultants will assist in developing strategies for stakeholder engagement to promote public and institutional ownership.
Lake Sevan has long been threatened by pollution and declining water levels, prompting government reforms to strengthen water supply, irrigation, and wastewater management. Yet the existing treatment plants in Gavar, Martuni, and Vardenis rely solely on mechanical processes, discharging phosphorus-laden effluents that continue to harm the lake’s ecosystem. This highlights the urgent need for modern biological treatment technologies, where the PPS is expected to provide the foundation for long-term reforms to safeguard Armenia’s largest freshwater body.
The PPS is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026.
