A team from Armenia’s Ministry of Nature Protection is wrapping up work to dismantle the largest illegal natural flowing well in the Ararat valley. 

The 100 meter deep well pulls 12 million cubic meters of water from the ground each year. 

The ministry reports that it continues to dismantle illegal wells in the area in the hope that ground water levels will not decrease further. 

Large fish farms in the area, many owned by government officials, utilize the water from these wells that were dug without proper permits and that do not measure water usage.