YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia has sufficient water resources to meet both current and forecast needs. The average annual amount of renewable underground and surface water resources makes 9 billion cubic meters. High-quality underground waters provide 96% of drinking water. At the March 23 conference dedicated to International Day of Water and the 5th anniversary of the Water Resource Management Agency of Armenia (WRMA), the RA Minister of Nature Protection Vardan Aivazian stated that some countries have oil resources, while Armenia has considerable resources of high-quality water. According to him, efficient use and management of these resources has become vital today. In the minister's words, the WRMA was founded in 2002 for the purpose of correct management of the country's water resources. Among the agency's achievements are creation of the legislative basis of the sector and bringing over 90% of water consumption in Armenia to the legislative field. It was noted that 97% of water resources in the world are salt and unfit for drinking and irrigation. The amount of water in rivers and lakes, which is accessible and suitable for use makes up 1%. Our planet's hydrologic system provides 44 thousand cubic meters of water annually, in which Armenia accounts for 46.6 cubic meters - 0.01%. On the occasion of International Day of Water, a number of employees were presented with letters of thanks of the Armenian prime minister and the minister of nature protection for their activities in the sphere of use and preservation of water resources.

---