Water problems and management framework in Georgia

This chapter presents the context of Georgia’s commitments taken in the framework of the signed Association Agreement with the European Union in 2014. More specifically, the chapter analyses the set of EU Water Directive and some key provisions of the Water Framework Directive. It also considers the role of waterpricing policies to ensure adequate incentives for efficient water resources use, and thereby contribute to the environmental objectives. The chapter describes the current state of water problems and priorities in Georgia. It considers the issues like water quality which is an overriding concern, with widespread water pollution causing outbreaks of water-related diseases and harm to aquatic ecosystems, and water variability in the form of flooding and the occurrence of local and seasonal shortages. The chapter also discusses the need for water policy development in Georgia and the shortcomings of the current legal and institutional frameworks.