Analysis of the Ecological State of the Agstev and Getik Rivers using Background Concentrations

Abstract

According to the article, the Water Framework Directive, developed by the European Union, has been instrumental in shifting the assessment of river water quality in Armenia from a focus on maximum permissible concentrations of chemical water quality indicators to a more holistic approach that incorporates natural background concentrations. This transition, which has been in effect since 2011, underscores in the approach to water quality management, emphasizing the importance of ecological integrity and the utilization of natural reference points for evaluating water quality. It has been posited that the inherent limitation of maximum permissible concentrations is their inability to account for the distinct characteristics of specific geographical areas. This limitation persists despite the implementation of uniform criteria for assessing rivers within disparate physical and geographical zones. The Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Armenia "On the Establishment of Water Quality Standards for Each Basin Management Authority" delineates five distinct classes. Each class is designated by a color: "excellent" (1st class — blue), "good" (2nd class — green), "average" (3rd class — yellow), "unsatisfactory" (4th class — brown), and "poor" (5th class — red). The overall evaluation of water chemical quality is predicated on the class with the least favorable quality indicator. The water quality classes of the Agstev and Getik rivers for the period 2013-2024 are examined through the analysis of background concentrations. The investigation revealed that, subsequent to 2021, the water quality of the Agstev and Getik rivers exhibited a decline at all monitoring points located beyond the urban centers of Dilijan, Ijevan, and Chambarak. This decline was attributed to the impact of untreated or inadequately treated domestic wastewater from these cities.