A resident of Tsav village in Syunik Province noticed a suspicious metallic substance in the water flowing from their home tap, after which they immediately contacted the local branch of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health.
Following the alert, specialists collected water samples from the resident's home. Laboratory analysis revealed that the mercury content in the water significantly exceeded the maximum permissible threshold. Since similar deviations had never been recorded in previous chemical tests, specialists decided to perform a second sampling from four different points, including the water source itself and residents' taps. The repeated laboratory results received on September 11 once again confirmed the high mercury levels.
Competent authorities have already been informed of the issue to arrange safe water supply alternatives for the village as soon as possible. Until water quality is fully restored, Tsav residents are strongly urged not to use tap water at all, whether for drinking or any household purposes.
Although no health deterioration or symptoms have yet been recorded among villagers, specialists plan to conduct door-to-door visits as part of preventive measures. At the same time, the Government and the municipality are taking steps to provide residents with safe drinking water and to identify the exact cause of the water contamination as quickly as possible.
The presence of such a heavy metal as mercury in drinking water is a serious alarm, as chemical contamination of this kind does not occur by chance and requires an immediate investigation into its causes. Since no such deviations were recorded in the past, the main question remains whether the contamination occurred at the water source itself or in a section of the water supply network.
Right now, the most critical priority is providing residents with safe water and neutralizing potential health risks. In the coming days, it will become clear how much time will be needed to clean the system and fully determine the underlying causes.
