Former Armenian minister calls for class-action lawsuits against Veolia Water over water quality

Former Armenian Justice Minister Arpine Hovhannisyan has urged consumers to pursue class-action lawsuits against Veolia Water, alleging the company has supplied drinking water that fails to meet Armenia's official quality standards.

In a video posted on social media on Saturday, Hovhannisyan said water samples collected from multiple communities and subsequently tested showed that the water did not comply with the country's established quality requirements.

She alleged that during the summer, when water demand outpaces supply, Veolia supplements water from the Garni source with harder artesian water. According to Hovhannisyan, the mixing is taking place at reservoirs including Arin Berd and Kharberd, as well as other facilities.

Hovhannisyan said the practice has caused water hardness levels in several communities to exceed, or come close to exceeding, the maximum limits set by Armenia's Ministry of Health.

She argued that consumers are paying for water that does not meet the required standards and therefore have legal grounds to challenge the company's practices.

"This means that Armenian citizens are paying for water that does not meet the established standards and can apply to the courts to challenge the entire process, which is exactly what I urge them to do," the ex-minister said.