YEREVAN, August 8 /ARKA/. Five rivers flowing into Armenia’s largest Lake Sevan are polluted with biogenic elements, Environment Minister Erik Grigoryan wrote in a Facebook post.
According to Grigoryan, the ministry’s Center for Monitoring and Information monitors the quality of water in the rivers Dzknaget, Masrik, Sotk, Karchaghbyur, Vardenis, Martuni, Argichi, Tsakkar, Shogvag and Gavaraget.
The Gavaraget, Tsakkar, Shogvag, Masrik, and Argichi rivers are contaminated with biogenic elements, he said.
The alleged causes of biogenic elements are household waste waters, which flow into the lake without proper treatment, as well as agricultural runoff. As a result a significant amount of nitrogen and phosphorus is washed away into the lake.
Lake Sevan is in Gegharkunik province located at an altitude of 1,900 m above sea level. Its’ basin’s total surface area is about 5,000 km2, which makes up 1⁄6 of Armenia’s territory. The lake itself is 1,242 km2. It is fed by 28 rivers and streams. Sevan has significant economic, cultural, and recreational value. Its only island (now a peninsula) is home to a medieval monastery.