BEST PRACTICES FOR WATER EFFICIENCY

Participatory Utilization and Resource Efficiency of Water (PURE Water) project

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BEST PRACTICES FOR WATER EFFICIENCY ARARAT VALLEY Small and Medium FISHFARMS

TABLE OF CONTENT Preface

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A Successful Business Based on Saving and Reuse of Groundwater Arsen Khalatyan, Sipanik

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Outcomes of the Efficient Use of Groundwater and Consistent Work Artur Hovhannisyan, Hovtashat

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Golden Sturgeon: Successful and Competent Business Based on Saving and Reuse of Groundwater Arsen Hayrapetyan, Zorak

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Simple Tricks: More Effecient Use of Limited Water Resources Gagik Bayramyan, Hovtashat

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Captured by Masis: Reuse of Water Resources through a Creative Idea and Smart Solutions Artur Baghdasaryan, Guy

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The Taste of Hovtashat Fish: Successful Business Based on Saving and Reuse of Groundwater Harutyun Vardanyan, Hovtashat

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Fish Farming - a Stimulus for Family Reunion: Caring Attitude toward Water Resources – a Guarantee of Success Safaryan Family, (Vahan Safaryan), Hovtashat

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Women Fish-Breeders: Success through Innovation Satenik Tokhyan, Hayanist

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Fishery as a Profession and Lifestyle: Efficient Use of Water Resources through Innovation and Cooperation Zhora Mkrtchyan, Hovtashat

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Reuse of Water from Fish Farms of Ararat Valley for Irrigation

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Reuse of Fish Farm Water and Improvement of Sayat-Nova Village Irrigation System

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Identification and Suggestion of Internationally Recognized Best Management Practices of Water-Efficient Fish Farming

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Preface In recent years, water resources insufficiency in Armenia and particularly in the Ararat Valley has emerged as a significant problem. Groundwater scarcity, which is supported by data, triggered public discussions to propose ways to restore groundwater aquifers and raise awareness to efficient management of water resources.

The overuse of water resources of the country can be explained for example by economic or energy crises, limited use of alternative energy sources, low level of precipitation per year, as well as boosting economic development through over-exploitation of water resources. No matter how endless would seem the water resources of the lake Sevan and Ararat Valley, those, unfortunately, are not unlimited and long years are needed for their restoration.

The irrational use of water resources during the last 10-15 years has already created severe environmental problems. The level of Artesian Basin of Ararat Valley has decreased, the size of the self-propelled zone has dropped for about three times, and its chemical composition has changed irreversibly, becoming inappropriate for drinking in many places.

The government is not the only responsible party for efficient water resource management. It is vital that every water user – individual or organization – treats those resources with care.

In this context, along with its various initiatives, the USAID-funded Participatory Utilization and Resource Efficiency of Water (PURE Water) project initiated the "Best Practices" project in cooperation with the International Center for Agribusiness Research and Education (ICARE). The goal of this project is to identify and promote best practices of efficient water use by fisheries in Armenia's Ararat Valley.

The “Best Practices” project was launched in September 2018. The USAIDfunded Advanced Science and Partnerships for Integrated Resource Development (ASPIRED) Project and ICARE provided information on fisheries in the Ararat Valley, and PURE Water invited fisheries to participate in the "Best Practices" Project. Later, PURE Water disseminated the message through 3

various information platforms, ensuring that the competition is open to all fisheries in Ararat Valley. PURE Water's team conducted individual visits to more than 40 fisheries to provide comprehensive information on the goal of the “Best Practices” project and generally inform the fish-farmers about the Participatory Utilization and Resource Efficiency of Water (PURE Water) project and its goals. An orientation meeting was organized, and as a result, nine small and medium-size fish-farms expressed willingness and interest to participate in the project. Each of these farms had an exciting water-related story that they wanted to share so other fish farmers can replicate or learn from. The fish-farmers have passed a long and challenging way to establish their business and maintain it. It is noteworthy that they have been carrying out their activities through smart approaches to efficient water resource management, which proved to be economically feasible for their business.

This booklet was prepared within the framework of "Best Practices" project. It includes success stories about the efficient water use based on best international practices implemented by several USAID supported projects in Ararat Valley. These practices are an excellent example for every fish-farmer interested in efficient water use. The booklet also aims to tell the stories of some fish-farmers from Ararat Valley and demonstrate water-efficient practices that were adopted by them.

All the materials were prepared based on conversations with the fish farmers and documenting their stories. It is interesting and instructive that best practices do not always require considerable financial resources; what is needed is the will, serious and caring attitude to the efficient use of the resources of own country and nature and of course hard work to overcome the economic and financial difficulties with dignity.

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SUCCESS STORIES

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A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS Based on Saving and Reuse of Groundwater

Arsen Khalatyan, Sipanik The beginning Arsen Khalatyan is from the village of Sipanik. He started a fishery in 2015.

"One of my relatives was producing fry, and that is when I became interested in this business. He helped me and shared his knowledge about variety of fish, specifics of breeding, fish market in Armenia and the ways of fighting against fish diseases. At first, I tried to breed fish at home, and then I decided to set up a fish farm," says Arsen. He tried and explored the business, and decided to buy a small fish farm and start his own business. He was well-aware of the challenges, but his willingness was even bigger. The area was completely covered with puddles, and he also had to transport the soil with tracks to somehow to dry up and improve the area. Besides, he needed some investment to start the business, and Arsen had to get a loan.

Operational mechanisms of the fishery Though it may seem strange, Arsen's fishery basins are not directly supplied by groundwater. Arsen does not have a deep well that provides water to his fishery.

He had made some efforts to receive a permit for a new well, but during that period, the public attitude was against opening new wells. However, a strong desire of Arsen to operate his fishery helped him find an efficient and sustainable solution. He identified that the water used and discharged by the neighboring fishery is flowing into the drainage canal and further into the rivers and out of Armenia's border. Arsen decided to reuse outflow water from the neighboring fishery. He installed a basic infrastructure channeling that discharged water to his fish basins.

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Another water saving approach that Arsen adopted was the irrigation of a greenhouse using the same outflow water. It's been two years since Arsen has set up a small greenhouse on an almost completely saline land next to his fishery. A simple and affordable pump allows reusing the water from the basins to irrigate the crops in the greenhouse.

Although Arsen runs his fishery without using groundwater resources, yet because he is aware of the value of water, he reuses water twice. Arsen considers this mechanism of his production management as the main advantage of his fishery. He reuses about 300 l/sec of water and produces about 15 tons of fish per year. He is happy with his work, as he does it with pleasure. The product of the fishery is completely consumed in the Armenian market.

Vision for future development Arsen believes that supplying oxygen into water is very important for fish. In the future, he would like to purchase some aerators; before that, he needs to ensure sustainable and reliable power supply, and therefore, would need sufficient investment for that. Currently, he does not have enough funds, so Arsen is trying to find more affordable options; for example, some individuals are producing aerators with lower price in Armenia. He would also like to have an oxygen meter, which is particularly important for reused water. At the same time, he is willing to install solar panels to reduce the cost of power supply.

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Outcomes of the Efficient Use of Groundwater and Consistent Work Artur Hovhannisyan, Hovtashat

The beginning Artur has been engaged in fish breeding since 2007. A friend of Artur was running a fishery, and he also decided to try that business. The start was tough.

Experienced fish farmers were unwilling to share their knowledge. However, he was determined to succeed and started self-learning. Through the years he improved his experience and learned from international best practices, as well.

"At the beginning, I had only three basins, but with time, that number increased up to nine," says Artur. Artur believes that his caring attitude towards the fishery is one of the strengths of his business; he doesn't treat the fishery as a mere source of income. Artur considers that he and other small fish businesses are the real fish farmers, as they raise the fish from spawn. Artur does not face any challenges in selling the products, and he is very happy that his fish is sold in Armenia.

Operational mechanisms of the fishery Artur's fish farm is supplied through an underground basin. The farm has a permit to use about 45 l/sec of water, and about 10 tons of fish is produced per year. Now, Artur has 9 basins. Water saving takes place due to reusing it several times based on cascading system flowing from one basin to another. Particularly, the 8

water extracted from the well is reused by all 9 basins for various purposes, ranging from breeding of spawn to raising different types of fish. The water is enriched with oxygen through aerators. Aſter flowing through 9 basins, the water mostly falls into the drainage canal. Artur supplies water to the neighboring farms, as much as he can, if necessary.

Vision for future development Artur intends to expand his business and hopes there will be more favorable conditions for the development of small and medium businesses in Armenia. In that case, he believes that it will be possible to increase the number of basins and save more water through rotation. Artur notes that aſter 600 meters, water is self-cleaned. He believes that a minimum of 100 l/sec and a maximum of 500 l/sec of water is required to support the fish farmer, meanwhile ensuring that water is used efficiently. To provide more water for irrigation of the neighboring lands, it is necessary to build a pump station; however, it is impossible without additional investments.

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GOLDEN STURGEON: Successful and Competent Business Based on Saving and Reuse of Groundwater

Arsen Hayrapetyan, Zorak

The beginning Arsen Hayrapetyan is from Yerevan. The decision to launch a fishery was made aſter two years of engagement in fish exporting business. In 2011, he purchased an already operating company, "Emmy Fish" LTD, set-up in 2009. The purchase was executed with a few friends and through a loan. The most part of the area of the acquired company was covered with bogs. Arsen has built an earth dam there to isolate the nearby bogs and turn some of it into basins for fish, the other part will become a manageable fish basin next year.

Operational mechanisms of the fishery There are 20 ponds in the fishery, in which 14 are operational and six new ones are under construction. There are currently two deep wells in a territory of 4 ha. 7 years ago their number was 3. In 2014, the company sealed one of its wells for water savings, leaving 390 l/sec liters of water from 530 l/sec litres, while in 2015, by the consent of the Fishfarmers' Union and the Government, the water intake was reduced by another 30%.

At present, the fish farm has 280 l/sec water use permit, instead of 530, and the surface area of the basin and the quantity of products produced has grown almost twice. This has become possible thanks to the multiple use of water.

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The fish farm tools are cleaned with sunshine, and they fight against the diseases of the fish with natural lime. The fish farm is breeding precious fish.

Sturgeon does not get diseases, is provided with good nutrition, the basins are cleaned regularly. The products are mainly exported to the Russian Federation.

The fish farm has an annual fixed line of credit. The annual sale of fish makes up tp 120 tons.

One of Arsen's sturgeons is golden in color - a rare thing among this type of fish.

Vision for future development At present, the company is irrigating a few hectares of the community's dry areas through the fish farm's outgoing water. Arsen has agreed that the neighboring households use the outgoing water of his territory as much as needed.

Arsen believes that there is a lack of proper literature on sturgeon breeding in Armenia, as well as the absence of good specialists in the sector in Armenia. In particular, there is no literature on sturgeon breeding. In general, Arsen believes that the fishfarmers themselves in the first place are interested in efficient use of groundwater, as the depletion of water resources will geopardize their own businesses.

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SIMPLE TRICKS: More Effecient Use of Limited Water Resources Gagik Bayramyan, Hovtashat

The beginning Gagik Bayramyan is from Vanadzor. He has engaged in fish farming since 2008. "I lived in Vanadzor and had a small fish store," Gagik says. In the course of his work, he got acquainted with some fish farmers and one of them offered to start a joint fishery business. Shortly aſter setting up the fishery, Gagik's partner leſt the business, and he continued it alone. Loans have always been the primary source of investment. Gagik has a couple of current loans which he is gradually repaying.

Gagik's fishery is oſten visited by bluebirds called Azure kingfishers (Ceyx Azureus). Though they are hunting on fry and cause some harm to the fishery, Gagik confesses that sometimes he doesn't even chase them and allows catching some fish. He doesn't even put a fence around the basins not to leave kingfishers without food.

Gagik believes that the advantage of his small business is the fact that he manages to sell his entire product. He organizes transportation by himself, as well. He sells the product in the local market, which is enough for the current amount of production. Of course, in future, with expansion of the business and increase of production output, he would be interested in new networks and new markets.

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Operational mechanisms of the fishery The fishery is supplied with groundwater from a deep well. Gagik has a permit to use 45 l/sec of water; to raise the efficiency of limited water resources, Gagik has applied some tricks. Water enters the basins directly with one jet, thus "breaking" and enhancing with oxygen, and flowing, first, into the concrete pools then into the soil basins. By means of rotation, the water circles through five concrete and five soil basins. Then it flows out of the territory and falls into Sevjur River. Gagik has continuously suggested his neighbors installing a special pump, filtering the water and using it for irrigation. However, none of the neighbors has replied to his suggestion so far. In future, if he manages to expand the business, he plans to install relevant equipment to rotate the water.

Gagik also uses self-made "windows" for the water to pass through and flow from one basin to another, thus being cleaned and enriched in oxygen. At the moment, Gagik produces 15 tons of fish per year, and if he manages to repay his loans and take out a new one with better conditions, he will be able to produce from 35 to 40 tons of fish.

Vision for future development Gagik has lots of plans, but he is still holding back any big projects. He says there are many risks and all plans should be well-grounded. He believes that, unfortunately, it is still too early to think about using solar energy. Purchase of aerators also requires considerable investments. Indeed, he has already made some investments, but there are still many things to do. Everything depends on opportunities for getting financial resources with better conditions. Like many of his friends, Gagik also thinks that if there are thresholds defined for minimum and maximum permissible water use, they would be able to produce more, and all fish farmers would be provided with equal conditions.

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CAPTURED BY MASIS: Reuse of Water Resources through a Creative Idea and Smart Solutions

Artur Baghdasaryan, Guy

The beginning "It was the year 2001. We wanted to buy a summer house, and the road led us to Guy Village. We liked the plot and decided to buy it without further searches.

Masis captured us," says Artur and smiles. "There was a gravity well and a basin with fish in the purchased plot. It was a pity to get rid of the fish, and we automatically decided to get involved in fish breeding."

They have been working for 17 years. At first, they had borrowed a lot, now they avoid it because the terms of credit were unfavorable. Artur notes that it is a time-consuming, challenging job, requires hard work, and in recent years the challenges have multiplied. He believes that it would be much better if the fish farming sector and, in particular, the market was subject to state regulation.

Operational mechanisms of the fishery In GamFish, aſter flowing out of the well, water is distributed to 17 basins based on the size. GamFish uses a cascade system. At the first three levels, water is automatically enhanced with oxygen, while at the fourth and fiſth levels aerators are used for that purpose. Thus, the water is used five times. Artur believes that 14

the drainage water is not allowed for secondary use, and it flows to the neighboring country. He believes that with state regulation of the sector in place, people could be allowed to use that water for irrigation aſter proper cleaning. Artur attaches much importance to the cleanliness of the basins, considering it as one of the main advantages of his fish farm. The other advantage of the fishery is being a family business; they live and work there, and do not have any problem with labor. The fish farm uses a total of 201 l/sec of water, producing about 150 tons of fish per year. In the future, they plan to improve the business and boost its productivity. With the implementation of their plans, they will be able to produce 250 tons of fish with the same amount of water used.

Vision for future development Artur notes that rotating water is very important for more efficient use of water resources. In future, they plan to dig a drain, place a filter and circulate the water. Artur mentions, that such water is even more favorable for fish breeding, unlike primary water, which is tough and requires soſtening. He highlights that everyone should be equal before the law. He also believes that the sector of fish farming should be sponsored by public authorities, and it is necessary to regulate the sales of production by means of establishing a stateowned agent to organize the purchase of fish thus creating equal conditions in the market.

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THE TASTE OF HOVTASHAT FISH: Successful Business Based on Saving and Reuse of Groundwater

Harutyun Vardanyan, Hovtashat

The beginning Harutyun established his fishery in 2012, in the village of Hovtashat. Harutyun is a history teacher. "When buying fish, I used to watch how they are raised and how the business worked, and I also decided to engage in fish breeding," says Harutyun. He started his business with a loan, and at the moment he is also using a loan to run the fishery.

Operational mechanisms of the fishery There are eight basins in Harutyun's fishery. He raises mainly trout and highquality brook trout. In general, he produces up to 18-20 tonnes of fish, but if he has aerators, will produce up to 35 tonnes. Harutyun has a permit to use 140 16

l/sec of water, and he is sharing it with the neighboring fishery. Thus, his fishery itself uses 70 l/sec of water. The used water, already rich in nutrients, is supplied through pumps to ten neighboring households for irrigation.

Harutyun is fighting fish diseases by means of disinfecting the basins.

Vision for future development The fish farm has a capacity of adding the number of basins through circulating the water several times. Artur could use the neighboring area with only 70 l/sec of water, by reusing it from 5 to 6 times.

Currently, he is working on connection to three-phase power supply to start using aerators. He primarily sells the product at the local market and exports his fish to Ar tsakh. Harutyun believes that cleanliness of his basins and the taste of fish are the main advantages of his fishery.

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FISH FARMING - A STIMULUS FOR FAMILY REUNION: Caring Attitude toward Water Resources – a Guarantee of Success

Safaryan Family, (Vahan Safaryan), Hovtashat The beginning Vahan is from Gegharkunik Marz (region). In his home town, he had been involved in fish breeding since 2000, and he used to sell the products on the spot. However, due to the weather conditions, Vahan's fishery in Gegharkunik Marz had very short seasonal operations. "Due to the low temperature of water, fish growth was rather slow, and Vahan decided to establish another fishery in 2014," says Aharon, Vahan's brother, who is currently in charge for the operation of the fishery in Hovtashat. Vahan's two brothers, Aharon and Margar, had to return home from Russia, aſter many years of work there. The fishery became a stimulus for the family reunion. At present, Aharon runs the fishery in Hovtashat, while his brothers deal with the supply of food, agreements, and sale of the products. The primary source of investments is mainly the loans.

The brothers have tried to enter international markets, as well; however, it requires larger investments. Therefore, they have held back those plans for now.

Operational mechanisms of the fishery The fishery is supplied by groundwater from a deep well. The volume of water according to the water use permit has been reduced compared to the previous 18

years. However, the current 120 l/sec permit is sufficient for the implementation of the ongoing plans. The water stream enters into the basin via mechanical flow and then is distributed to the basins through small holes thus creating a de-gasation effect. As a result, the mechanism allows breeding twice more fish with the same amount of water. Aharon believes that as a small business their fishery has some advantages. First, the basins are very clean, as it is a priority for them. Besides, the establishment of the fishery pushed him and his brother to repatriate. They sell the fish in the local market, as it is enough to cover the current volume of production.

Vision for future development Safaryan family persistently thinks about advancing their business. For example, in addition to the equipment already in use, they need external aerators. They have continuously suggested their neighbors to make small investments in buying a pump and using their outflow water for irrigation.

However, so far, none of the neighbors has approached them with such request.

Aharon feels concerned that people do not use that water, and it flows to Sevjur from the fishery. Instead, it could be used as irrigation water for the neighboring fields.

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WOMEN FISH-BREEDERS: Success through Innovation

Satenik Tokhyan, Hayanist

The beginning Satenik's fishery was founded in 2008 in Hayanist. For a long time, she was willing to initiate her own business but had no specific plans. She used to buy fish from nearby stores rather oſten, and one day, it occurred to her that fish breeding would be an exciting business for her. "When we brought the fry and filled the basin, I started watching how they grew, and it made me even more excited," says Satenik. It is a hard task to run a fishery, and the sales are not always easy, due to the lack of the expected volume of production.

Operational mechanisms of the fishery Satenik says that at the initial stage, water from the artesian basin was gushing forth by itself. Aſter four years of operation, however, the flow of water suddenly ceased. Aſter that, she had to install a pump to extract water. As a result, consumption of power is high, but she has not yet made a final decision on using solar energy.

Nevertheless, Satenik uses innovative approaches in her fishery. She uses a cascade system. Water does not spin back yet, but Satenik is planning to make further improvements in the future. Currently, water is used for seven times, entering seven different basins. At a later stage, she is planning to use the water another seven times through back-rotation. Satenik uses 20

about 50 l/sec of water. As the fisheries are placed at a lower location, neighbors are not able to use the outflowing water for irrigation. If the neighbors install a pump, she will be glad to provide water for irrigation of the neighboring dry plots. Satenik likes fish farming, but recently she is not so happy with the volume of sales. She sells the product in Armenia, at her store, and also supplies to some eating places. She believes that it is too early to think about exporting, as the amount of production is not sufficient yet. Satenik thinks that the advantage of her business is its proximity to her home.

Vision for future development Satenik needs new investments to boost her business. She says that most of the income received from the business is generally spent on investments and improvements. Previously, she had taken some loans, and aſter repayment, she does not want to borrow more. Due to the current uncertain situation, she avoids making specific investment in the development of the business. Satenik prefers to wait and watch future regulatory developments of the sector. She says that there are still numerous unsettled and disputed issues in the sector, and only aſter proper regulation she will be considering taking more consistent efforts for the future development of the fishery, buying aerators and implementing the water backrotation.

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FISHERY AS A PROFESSION AND LIFESTYLE: Efficient Use of Water Resources through Innovation and Cooperation

Zhora Mkrtchyan, Hovtashat The beginning Before starting a fishery business, Zhora used to have another occupation.

Once, aſter a talk with a friend of his, he started thinking over the idea of setting up a fishery; asking questions here and there, obtaining and strengthening background knowledge on fish farming. The overall process was quite challenging. However, Zhora managed to secure a loan from a bank, purchase a fishery in 2009, and create acceptable conditions for settlement. Zhora likes cooperating with peer fish farmers. "Only by assisting each other, it's possible to overcome current issues," Zhora says. Zhora believes that he and other farmers like him have an advantage, and it's their approach; for them, the fishery is not just a means of receiving profit, it's a profession, a lifestyle. The amount of fish produced by Zhora is not that much, and it is consumed in the local market.

Operational mechanisms of the fishery The fishery gets its water supply from a deep well. Since the amount of water permitted to use is not that much, and water in the well is not sufficient, Zhora has implemented the cascade system. The same water is "circling" through five 22

basins. The basin water is supplied with oxygen through self-made decontamination tools. The solution came to his mind due to the lack of the required amount of water. He knew there was such a mechanism theoretically, and saw a real one at a peer fish farmer. Zhora receives about 35 liters per second water which allows him breeding of 8 tons of fish. Aſter multiple uses, the water flows to the pump station, and is sometimes provided for irrigation of fields; however, Zhora does not have precise information on the latter. Zhora also uses a gateway as a gripping cleaning mechanism; he says that it has a vacuuming effect. Zhora believes that fish farmers shall receive a permit to use a minimum of 100 l/sec and a maximum of 500 l/sec of water, which would facilitate their business and ensure efficient water use, at the same time.

Vision for future development Zhora would like to see the rapid growth of his business. However, the primary source for investment is still short term loans with high-interest rates. Power supply and nature user charges also cost a lot. There are numerous financial and regulatory risks due to the incomplete regulatory framework. Zhora has an initial plan to use solar energy and aerators, which require a transformer substation, and need investment. Work is hard, but there are lots of plans.

Every time he is making discoveries and moving forward with small steps relying on his own experience and the expertise of his peers. He is willing to apply innovative solutions to boost the efficienc y of water resource management, however, still faces the challenge of scarce financial resources.

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Reuse of Water from Fish Farms of Ararat Valley for Irrigation The pilot project was implemented in Hayanist Village of Ararat Marz (Region) with joint efforts of the USAID-funded ASPIRED (Advanced Science & Partnerships for Integrated Resource Development) Project, Coca-Cola Hellenic Armenia and the UNDP-GEF Small Grants Program.

The Ararat Valley of Armenia represents the most significant reserve of the groundwater resources of the country. It's also the major center of agriculture in Armenia. The groundwater extraction in the Ararat Valley by fish farms has reached unprecedented level in the recent decade, having resulted in the reduction of the artesian basin by more than 60%. The groundwater level dropped by 9 meters on average, thus leading to tremendous water shortage in the Valley and leaving some 30 local communities without access to water.

Hayanist is the first village to practice unconventional method of irrigation by reusing water from the nearby fishery for irrigation needs on a community level. In order to solve the issue of irrigation, a pumping station was built at the water outlet of the fish farm, a new irrigation network was installed, and a training of landowners on sustainable agriculture was delivered.

The ASPIRED project examined the safety of the fish feed used at the fishfarm and conducted several water quality tests to make sure fish feed was free from 25

harmful substances and the water quality met the irrigation water standards defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization.

ASPIRED facilitated establishment of a public-private partnership between the community of Hayanist and the private fish farm, thus supporting a more responsible use of the groundwater in the Ararat Valley.

The project returned 40 ha of abandoned farmlands to cultivation, benefitting 120 households. Some farmers renewed cultivation of their lands and hopefully further improvement of life conditions of Hayanist community will follow.

Reuse of return water from fish farms increases the efficiency of water resource management and use. This demonstration project can be exemplary for other communities of the region and contribute to more responsible use of the groundwater resources of Ararat Valley.

As a part of the project’s post-implementation monitoring, samples of water melon and melon grown in Hayanist farms irrigated by fish farms outflow were tested by the Food Safety Laboratory of the State Service for Food Safety of the Ministry of Agriculture for their safety for use. The samples were tested for multiple safety parameters for fruits and vegetables, defined by the Government Decision N: 412-N, dated April 5, 2012. Samples were also tested for organoleptic parameters, such as appearance, taste and odor. Based on the test results, and according to the conclusion issued by the Food Safety Laboratory, both melon and water melon samples met all safety norms of Armenia.

A draſt contract was signed between Hayanist village administrations and fish farms on operation of the pump station, including the rights and responsibilities of the parties. A special provision is included in the contract about the responsibility of the fish farm owner to inform in advance the village administration on use of medication in the fish ponds or change of the fish feed.

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Reuse of Fish Farm Water and Improvement of Sayat-Nova Village Irrigation System USAID's studies show that the depletion of water in the Ararat Valley threatens the sustainability of the country's strategic groundwater resources. Due to the overexploitation of the valley's groundwater reserves, more than 30 communities in the region are experiencing a shortage of drinking and irrigation water. Lack of irrigation water hurts farmers, negatively impacting the socio-economic situation of the rural communities and leading to migration of the population from rural communities.

In December 2017, USAID's Advanced Science and Partnerships for Integrated Resource Development (ASPIRED) project signed a partnership agreement with the Fund for Armenian Relief, the USAID-funded Partnerships for Rural Prosperity project, and the community of Sayat-Nova for the implementation of an irrigation improvement project for the community.

The new system provides more affordable irrigation services and more efficient groundwater use to irrigate 60 hectares of community land by reusing the outlet water from the Masis Dzuk fishery near Sayat-Nova rather than dumping it into the drainage network. Through the public-private partnership between the community and Masis Dzuk, a new pumping station was built at the outlet section of the fishery and a new irrigation network was installed with durable polyethylene pipes.

The construction of a new water pipeline connecting the pump station and the upper part of the old irrigation system enabled the supply of water to the fields through the existing gravity irrigation canals. Besides, the old irrigation canals were rehabilitated to reduce water losses and improve the efficiency of system.

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The system constructed by the joint efforts of the project partners was transferred to the ownership of the community that undertook responsibility for the smooth operation of the system in line with the goals of the project.

252 people from 98 households benefit from an opportunity to irrigate their farmlands that had been leſt idle for the last 15 years. The new irrigation system has a potential for expansion to cover up to 190 hectares of community land, saving of strategically important groundwater resources (1,920,000 m3/year) and benefiting 2,400 local residents.

Sayat-Nova is the second community in the Ararat Valley aſter Hayanist where USAID, with the help of its partners, has implemented a project highlighting the secondary use of fish farm water as an alternative and environmentally sustainable solution. This approach can be effectively replicated by other communities in the region to address the valley's shortage of irrigation water.

A draſt contract was signed between Sayat-Nova village administrations and fish farms on operation of the pump station, including the rights and responsibilities of the parties. A special provision is included in the contract about the responsibility of the fish farm owner to inform in advance the village administration on use of medication in the fish ponds or change of the fish feed.

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Identification and Suggestion of Internationally Recognized Best Management Practices of Water-Efficient Fish Farming

Natella Mirzoyan, Expert in Recirculating Aquaculture, ICARE foundation Currently, the best management practice in water-efficient fish farming is the use of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RASs), based on the treatment of aquaculture wastewater by different technological solutions, and re-circulation of treated water to rearing tanks. As long as the filtration systems adequately remove enough pollution to restore water quality at a cost that allows the operator to make a profit, the water can be recycled indefinitely with some makeup water to replace water that evaporates or leaks from the system.

Fish generally produce waste that falls into 2 categories: particulate/solid matter (sludge) and dissolved composites such as nitrogenous compounds (ammonia (NH3+), nitrite (NO2-), nitrate (NO3-), phosphorus (primarily phosphate (PO43-) and carbon dioxide (CO2). In RASs, water is cleaned and its quality is restored to acceptable levels by aeration, removal of particulate matter, biological filtration to remove ammonia and nitrite by nitrification, and buffering of pH. Approximately 30% of the daily feed ends up as particulate matter in fish farms.

Solid control is one of the most critical processes that must be managed in RASs. Removal of particulate matter (i.e. removal of large particles (>20 µm) by sedimentation or mechanical filtration and small particles (<20 µm) by either chemical or biological oxidation) is a commonly used practice in RASs worldwide.

Approximately 3% of the daily feed ends up as ammonia-nitrogen in the water.

Ammonia is highly toxic for fish and in RAS biofilter units it should be oxidized 29

to decrease its levels and convert into lower toxicity nitrate. The process of ammonia removal by a biological filtration is called nitrification, and consists of the successive oxidation of ammonia to nitrite and finally to nitrate. Among all possible types of nitrification reactors the commonly used in RASs are: submerged biofilters, trickling biofilters, rotating biological contactors, floating bead biofilters, dynamic bead biofilters, and fluidized-bed biofilters.

Although not typically employed in commercial aquaculture facilities today, the denitrification process (removal of nitrate) via different technological solutions is becoming increasingly important to further clean the water. Additionally, to help maintain good water-quality conditions in RASs, aquaponics solutions can be also integrated for nitrate (and in some cases ammonia and solids) removal from RAS wastewater.

Overall, as a result of intensive water treatment and re-use RASs can achieve up to 95% water recirculation efficiencies, and subsequently, very high water savings.

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«Ուրբան» կայ‫ٳ‬ն զարգացման հիﬓադրամ Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development

www.urbanfoundation.am info@urbanfoundation.am 9 Alex Manoogian, 0070 Yerevan, Armenia +374 60 612070

«Ազգային ջրային համագործակց‫ٳ‬թյ‫ٳ‬ն» ՀԿ

Երևանի պետական համալսարանի Էկոլոգիական իրավ‫ٳ‬նքի գիտա‫ٳ‬ս‫ٳ‬ﬓական կենտրոն

“Country Water Partnership” scientific, ecological NGO

Yerevan State University Environmental Law Resource Center

«Ագրոբիզնեսի հետազոտ‫ٳ‬թյ‫ٳ‬նների և կրթ‫ٳ‬թյան ﬕջազգային կենտրոն» հիﬓադրամ ICARE Foundation www.icare.am info@icare.am 74 Teryan Str., 0009 Yerevan, Armenia +374 10 522839

This brochure was made possible with the support of the American People through the U.S. Agency for International Development. The contents of this brochure are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reďŹ&#x201A;ect the views of USAID or the US Government.

The aim of PURE Water project is to contribute to responsible management and use of Ararat valley water resources through public participation and awareness raising, as well as to promote behavioral changes to ensure decrease of underground water extraction.

The project is funded by USAID and implemented by Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development Foundation, Country Water Partnership NGO and YSU Environmental Law Research Center.

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