Armenia’s Reservoirs Near Full Capacity After Heavy Rains, Boosting Water Security

Armenia’s major reservoirs are nearing full capacity after months of abundant rainfall —a significant boost to the country’s water resources and strengthening prospects for agricultural and environmental sustainability.

Meteorologists reported that intense rainfall on June 11 pushed the Aparan Reservoir to 100% capacity, while the water level of Lake Sevan rose by 2 centimeters within just a few hours.

“Yesterday’s heavy rainfall left its mark on water resources. The Aparan Reservoir is filled to 100%, and the water level of Lake Sevan has risen by 2 cm compared with the previous day,” said Levon Azizyan, Director of Armenia’s Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center.

The latest increase comes as Armenia experiences one of its strongest periods of water accumulation in recent years. Officials say abundant precipitation throughout 2025 and 2026 has filled reservoirs across the country to near-capacity levels, creating favorable conditions for water management, irrigation, and long-term resource planning.

Speaking before lawmakers during discussions of the 2025 state budget report, Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure David Khudatyan said all major reservoirs in the country are currently operating at exceptionally high storage levels.

“Due to precipitation in 2025 and 2026, all major reservoirs in the republic have reached near-full capacity. In some places, we have already carried out water releases due to overflow beyond capacity,” Khudatyan stated.

The minister also provided an update on the strategically important Vedi Reservoir project. The reservoir, the largest in Armenia, was completed in early 2025, with the first stage of filling beginning in April of that year. Authorities are continuing a carefully managed process of phased filling and water release to ensure the long-term structural integrity of both the dam and reservoir basin before reaching full operational capacity.

Meanwhile, Armenia is moving forward with plans to redesign the Kaps Reservoir project in the country’s northwestern Shirak Province. According to Khudatyan, a new design is being developed that would increase the reservoir’s capacity by approximately two and a half times compared to previous plans.

Construction of the Kaps Reservoir on the Akhuryan River remains suspended after the Armenian government initiated the termination of its contract with Chinese contractor Shanxi Construction Investment Group in late 2025, citing delays and failure to meet contractual obligations.

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