Improved Water Supply Systems Underway in Georgia

Several projects are currently underway in the field of water supply in Georgia, and state financial resources allocated for water supply are also increasing. A historic maximum of 380 million GEL has been allocated in the budget for 2022, a s a result 558 thousand additional beneficiaries will have their water supply improved in 172 locations under an ongoing and already processed project worth 2 billion 500 million GEL, of which 181 thousand beneficiaries are without 24-hour water supply.

United Water Company estimates the following projects will be completed by 2022: Establishing a water supply system in Vakijvari, Bakhvi, and Tskhemliskhidi villages of Ozurgeti Municipality; Rehabilitation of the water supply system in Matani village; Rehabilitation-construction of the water supply system in Kvemo Machkhani village; Installation of water supply systems in villages of Faniani, Iliatsminda, and Kvemo Machkhani in Sighnaghi. Water supply system rehabilitation project in Bulachauri village, Dusheti municipality; Construction of water supply systems in the villages of Dedoplistskaro municipality (Pirosmani, Samtatskaro, Tavtskaro, Choeti, Sabatlo, Arboshiki). Furthermore, the project in Telavi is being implemented with the support of an international donor. Once this project is completed, the citizens of the city will have access to 24-hour water supply.

The construction of complete water supply and sewerage systems will begin in Khashuri in 2022, a project estimated at 260 million GEL. Also, after completion of the third phase of water supply system rehabilitation, which is supported by the World Bank, all five villages of the Gardabani Municipality will have 24-hour water supplies.

Work is also underway to provide 24 hour water supply in Dedoplistskaro and 17 villages within Dedoplistskaro municipality, to rebuild water supply systems in villages in Sighnaghi Municipality: Anagi, Vakiri, Bodbiskhevi, Jugaani, Tibaani, Kvemo Magharo, Kvemo Bodbi, and Sakobao, to construct water supply systems for Tetritskaro, Manglisi and 15 villages (Metsvani, Golteti, Tsintskaro, Didi Durnuki, Patara Durnuki, Kotishi, Khaishi, Kosalari, Tbisi, Partskhisi, Sagrasheni, Ardisubani, Enageti, Shavsakdari Asureti) in Tetritskaro Municipality; Rehabilitation, construction of water supply systems in the villages of Vejini, Kolagi, Bakurtsikhe and Kardenakhi in Gurjaani municipality; Rehabilitation, construction of water supply systems in Sagarejo municipality, villages of Kandaura and Badiauri; Design and construction of water supply systems in the villages of Tskhvarichamia, Mukhrani, Tezami and Kevliani in Mtskheta municipality; construction of the water supply system in Martvili and nearby villages as well as of the sewage system in Martvili; Construction of the water supply system and sewerage system in Kvareli.

“As part of Georgia’s 10-year development plan, we will implement 350 million GEL worth of construction projects, which will achieve the goal of providing 24-hour access to clean and safe water to 665 thousand people in every city of Georgia by the year 2025. New projects are being launched in towns, villages, and resorts to gradually improve water supply, so that by the end of 2030, the whole population of Georgia will have access to water supply meeting international standards,” - said Alexander Tevdoradze, the head of United Water Company in conversation with Diplomat magazine.

Alexander Tevdoradze, the head of United Water Company

He also spoke about the projects undertaken to reduce the harmful effects of wastewater, and of the treatment plants constructed at Anaklia, Abastumani, Ureki, and Zugdidi. Further projects are in progress at Gudauri, Marneuli, and Poti. Currently, design work is underway at the following locations: Vani, Baghdati, Samtredia, Kazbegi, Bakuriani, Chiatura, Kutaisi, Gurjaani, Signagi, Tsnori; According to the set goals, 9.2 billion GEL will be invested, of which 2.5 billion GEL projects are already underway,” - claimed Alexander Tevdoradze.

Georgia’s autonomous region of Adjara with its popular tourist destination Batumi needs its own spotlight. Before 2007, less than 70% of Adjara’s inhabitants had access to tap water supply (for approximately 12 hours a day) and only one in three residents had access to wastewater systems. Many inhabitants of the affected areas helped themselves with pumping systems that were harmful to the entire system, or refused to pay for water of poor quality. Besides, leaks and illegal connections caused up to 90% of water to be lost and where the systems were still in operation, special caution was called for, as interruptions in supply or disposal lines led to health hazards for humans and endangered the environment. Another problem was that Batumi’s only waste water treatment plant (WWTP) was closed in the 1990s, releasing untreated sewerage into the Black Sea. Finally, the city only counted on a rudimental rainwater drainage system. As a consequence, heavy rain led to frequent flooding of large parts of the city.

The large number of health risks, environmental degradation, and loss of water stirred KfW to introduce the phased project “Rehabilitation of the Municipal Infrastructure in Batumi” in 2006. The initiative aims at providing a modern water management and treatment system for Batumi and adjacent villages. With a total financing of more than EUR 240 million in loans and grants by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and KfW as well as more than EUR 20 million in EU grants, the project constitutes one of the largest municipal infrastructure project in Georgia.

The restructured Batumi Tskali water utility ensures the sustainable management and maintenance of the newly rehabilitated infrastructure in the long term whereas tourists will increasingly use Adjara as a holiday destination given the improved water quality on the shore of the Black Sea. Furthermore, due to the extension of its intake and discharge capacity and its more effective management and maintenance, rainwater drainage experiences a significantly higher loadbearing capacity which in turn reduces flooding risks.

Encouraged by the success in Batumi, a new project started in 2019 in order to connect rural areas of Adjara region to the public water supply and a waste water disposal. It involves a completely new institutional approach for Georgia by having the newly founded supraregional association of water suppliers (AWA) and the inhabitants of the project regions select and operate the future project locations. The iproject is scheduled to be implemented until 2024. Financing comprises of a EUR 40 million loan and a EUR 10 million grant by EU and BMZ.