Dilijan is a beautiful town known as “Little Switzerland of Armenia”. In Dilijan, Aghstev River is located right beside my school.  

A brief introduction of  Aghstev River

1. Length: 133 km

2. Area of its basin: 2589 square kilometer

3. Origin: It is a right tributary of the Kura, which is the longest river in Caucasus region. 

4. Sources: It is refilled by groundwater and precipitation (e.g.  snow water, and rainfall)

5. Significance: 

1. Main stream for water supply of Tuvash

2. Trans Boundary river between Azerbaijan and Armenia

3. Maintain the biodiversity of the Dilijan National Park

Contamination of Aghstev River

Sitting beside the River Aghstev is one of my favorite things to do on the campus. Over there, I enjoy the beauty of nature, and listen to the sound of water flow. 

It creates me a wonderful sense of inner peace that is closely connected to our environment. However, I also noticed how it is polluted by household waste (e.g. plastic bottles, cans, glasses etc.) The contamination of the River Aghstev has raised several problems such as:

1. Great loss of fishes

2. Sewage that degrades the quality of drinking water

3. Health Concern

As you can see in this picture, there are a number of household waste piled upon the hill that may drop into the river and cause pollution. 

Impact 1: Harm to the environment

As a significant water source in the Dilijan National Park, Aghstev river plays a vital role to maintain the biodiversity of its ecosystems. 

Firstly, the pollution of Aghstev River has caused a great loss of fishes. A great loss of fishes is harmful to the food chain, it creates further damage to biodiversity. 

Second, the pollution of the Aghstev River posed a threat to animals and plants that relied on it as drinking water. With the effect of bioaccumulation and biomagnification, the toxic substance would be spread to different levels of the food chain, and exacerbate the damage of the ecosystems. 

Third, as a part of the hydrological cycle, the contamination of Aghstev River would impact the water quality of other fresh water such as other rivers, groundwater, ocean, and lakes that are linked to it. 

Impact 2: Health Concern

Although 99% of households in Dilijan are connected to the sewerage system, the water pipelines of private houses are in poor condition. With sewage and rubbish that are discharged into the river, the quality of water is worsening. 

Impact 3: Damage of the National Image

The contamination of River Aghstev would damage the national image of Armenia which is likely to generate the problems of:

1. Economic Development

Dilijan is an important tourism site and future financial center that requires a well-developed sanitation system of water supply. A good quality of water supply is a necessary condition to attract tourists and investment.

2. Political Concern

It is a border river and is often used against Armenia by Azerbaijan in international conferences. Ensuring the quality of the Aghstev river is crucial to maintain the peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. 

Conclusion

Years of ignorance have left the river polluted and unsafe, and what must be improved now is the awareness of the public and the overall sanitation management. Given the significant impacts of the Aghstev river, which includes individual health, national development, and environmental conservation, stopping the contamination is in an urgent need.