Sewage in the Mtkvari River
Investigative Media Lab
"I've lived here for many years, but it's never been in this condition. Fish are dying out, even species listed in the Red Book. Pollution affects everything—water quality and the environment. Who would want to be here? Sometimes the smell is so bad… I've seen so many things, but never anything like this," says a fisherman we spoke to along the Mtkvari River in the Dighomi area, who asked for anonymity.
"Take Gldanula or even a village or a river. Suppose you follow it upstream to Tsavkhrichamia, where the river begins. In that case, you'll find newly established villages, with everyone's sewage connected directly to the Gldanula. Of course, the Gldanula flows into the Mtkvari. And everyone turns a blind eye to this.
The same thing happens on the banks of the Dighomi area, where the Dighmula River flows. So it turns out that the Mtkvari is still full of sewage," the fisherman tells us.
"Take Gldanula or even a village or a river. Suppose you follow it upstream to Tsavkhrichamia, where the river begins. In that case, you'll find newly established villages, with everyone's sewage connected directly to the Gldanula. Of course, the Gldanula flows into the Mtkvari. And everyone turns a blind eye to this.
The same thing happens on the banks of the Dighomi area, where the Dighmula River flows. So it turns out that the Mtkvari is still full of sewage," the fisherman tells us.
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The pollution in the Mtkvari from sewage is also evident because the ammonium ion concentration within Tbilisi's limits exceeds the threshold level.
"According to the data from the National Environment Agency, the average annual concentration of ammonium ions in the Mtkvari River within Tbilisi exceeds the threshold level. This is due to urban wastewater, which may enter the river and its tributaries, bypassing the drainage system," says environmental expert Tamar Gugushvili.
The high concentration of heavy metals in the river poses a threat to both human health and aquatic organisms. Using polluted water for irrigation can lead to severe consequences as well.
According to an OECD report, untreated sewage is one of Georgia's most significant sources of pollution. Notably, diseases such as Hepatitis A and typhoid are often spread due to the use of contaminated water.
"According to the data from the National Environment Agency, the average annual concentration of ammonium ions in the Mtkvari River within Tbilisi exceeds the threshold level. This is due to urban wastewater, which may enter the river and its tributaries, bypassing the drainage system," says environmental expert Tamar Gugushvili.
The high concentration of heavy metals in the river poses a threat to both human health and aquatic organisms. Using polluted water for irrigation can lead to severe consequences as well.
According to an OECD report, untreated sewage is one of Georgia's most significant sources of pollution. Notably, diseases such as Hepatitis A and typhoid are often spread due to the use of contaminated water.
Sewage was not supposed to enter the Mtkvari after May 2018. GWP (Georgian Water and Power) took on this and other obligations as part of a $220 million investment agreement. Their commitments include continuous water supply in Tbilisi, ensuring high-quality drinking water, rehabilitating water and sewage systems, and stopping sewage flow into Mtkvari.
Georgian Water and Power (GWP) is the water supply monopoly in Georgia, providing drinking water to Tbilisi and Mtskheta. The company serves more than 510,000 subscribers. In 2023, GWP's net profit reached 106,034,000 GEL.
"I've never seen an environmental inspection, the city hall, or GWP come here to check or monitor. GWP should have some special service that monitors the Mtkvari or takes water samples. Still, I haven't seen anything like that," the fisherman says, pointing us to specific pollution points along the river.
Georgian Water and Power (GWP) is the water supply monopoly in Georgia, providing drinking water to Tbilisi and Mtskheta. The company serves more than 510,000 subscribers. In 2023, GWP's net profit reached 106,034,000 GEL.
"I've never seen an environmental inspection, the city hall, or GWP come here to check or monitor. GWP should have some special service that monitors the Mtkvari or takes water samples. Still, I haven't seen anything like that," the fisherman says, pointing us to specific pollution points along the river.
Photo: Timothy Merkel
Gldanula
We verified the fisherman's account along the Gldanula River (Gldaniskhevi). We encountered locals at 48 Davit Aghmashenebeli Street. "How do you like our river?" they greeted us on the bridge, where the stench of sewage quickly made it hard to breathe.
The locals explained that the unbearable smell in the settlement's center comes from sewage below the bridge, flowing directly into the Gldanula. They say the problem has been a concern for 17 years.
The locals explained that the unbearable smell in the settlement's center comes from sewage below the bridge, flowing directly into the Gldanula. They say the problem has been a concern for 17 years.
"They keep telling us they'll fix it. We're already exhausted," says Irakli Chkhikvishvili, a resident of Gldanula, guiding us to the connection point. In the broad creek bed, where the river has nearly dried up, sewage water flows directly from a pipe. The sanitary conditions and the smell make staying there unbearable.
"This filth you're looking at—children come down from all sides. A child could come here, wash their face, accidentally swallow some water, and something terrible could happen. They still haven't resolved this… we've filed so many complaints about it… I have ten grandchildren. Why should our children breathe this bad air?"
"This filth you're looking at—children come down from all sides. A child could come here, wash their face, accidentally swallow some water, and something terrible could happen. They still haven't resolved this… we've filed so many complaints about it… I have ten grandchildren. Why should our children breathe this bad air?"
Irakli explains that the Gldanula settlement has its own sewage and stormwater systems. Still, this connection point is not part of it and flows openly into the river.
"Upstream is the village of Rikiani, and their sewage flows down here. Just above Koberidze Street, where they call it the 'Red Stop,' it comes down from there. This should be connected to the central sewage system. The pipeline is right here."
Nino Chkhobadze, chairperson of the Georgian Greens – Friends of the Earth, says this is a problem for the entire country. "Throughout Georgia, we mainly rely on cesspools, as we don't have centralized sewage systems in rural areas. A settlement with more than 2,000 residents should have a centralized sewage system."
"Upstream is the village of Rikiani, and their sewage flows down here. Just above Koberidze Street, where they call it the 'Red Stop,' it comes down from there. This should be connected to the central sewage system. The pipeline is right here."
Nino Chkhobadze, chairperson of the Georgian Greens – Friends of the Earth, says this is a problem for the entire country. "Throughout Georgia, we mainly rely on cesspools, as we don't have centralized sewage systems in rural areas. A settlement with more than 2,000 residents should have a centralized sewage system."
"Gldanula is a tributary of the Mtkvari, so its pollution contributes to the Mtkvari's contamination. Eventually, all these residents should be connected to a collector. Discharging untreated wastewater, whether household or industrial, is illegal. But the reality in our country is that where there is no collection system, sewage from households flows directly into rivers," says water resources management expert Tamar Gugushvili.
The Gldanis River, or Gldanula, originates on the southern slopes of the Saguramo Range and flows into the Mtkvari near Avchala.
The Gldanis River, or Gldanula, originates on the southern slopes of the Saguramo Range and flows into the Mtkvari near Avchala.
While working on the article, we contacted Tbilisi City Hall and GWP to inform them of the issue. We requested a response to this article's possible environmental violations or challenges. [We provide GWP's response in full below.]
Ortachala
Nora Pakeliani lives on Vakhtang Gorgasali Street in Tbilisi. Heavy odors linger at her building's entrance, and the source is visible—a manhole left open and under repair for five years.
Despite the discomfort, she claims she is satisfied with the city administration's work. She expects GWP to address the sewage system. Nora confirms that the deteriorated sewage system flows into the Mtkvari. However, upon further questioning, she admits she has not personally verified it.
"Sewage at 115 Gorgasali Street is open and needs to be completed. Residents face discomfort with the constant smell around, and it frequently clogs. The entire sewage system needs replacement. It's 50 years old. We demand that the system be connected and sealed," says Nora.
Despite the discomfort, she claims she is satisfied with the city administration's work. She expects GWP to address the sewage system. Nora confirms that the deteriorated sewage system flows into the Mtkvari. However, upon further questioning, she admits she has not personally verified it.
The Mtkvari is situated between two highways in Ortachala, making it physically impossible to follow the sewage system's path along the shore. However, there is an open manhole, and the building's sewage flows openly towards the Mtkvari without any other visible route.
We couldn't find substantial research, report, or journalistic work on sewage pollution in the Mtkvari. NGOs working on environmental issues claim they need more specialization in this area. Only voluntary initiatives exist around this issue.
To understand the scale of the problem and determine how often authorities record pollution incidents in Mtkvari, we requested statistics on pollution from the Environmental Supervision Department from 2019 to 2024. In recent years, only 11 individuals and legal entities were fined for polluting the Mtkvari, raising questions about whether specific cases of river pollution are being overlooked.
We couldn't find substantial research, report, or journalistic work on sewage pollution in the Mtkvari. NGOs working on environmental issues claim they need more specialization in this area. Only voluntary initiatives exist around this issue.
To understand the scale of the problem and determine how often authorities record pollution incidents in Mtkvari, we requested statistics on pollution from the Environmental Supervision Department from 2019 to 2024. In recent years, only 11 individuals and legal entities were fined for polluting the Mtkvari, raising questions about whether specific cases of river pollution are being overlooked.
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- Tbilisi's Rivers
At least 10 rivers flow into the Mtkvari from different city areas. "Almost all of these rivers are polluted, except for the Legvtakhevi River, which flows through the Botanical Garden. The oligarch's river near Bidzina Ivanishvili's palace is also an exception," says Timothy Merkel, a hiker and tourist guide.
He first came to Georgia from the US in 2009 as an English teacher. For the past five years, he's lived here permanently, founded a tourism company, and guided people through different regions of Georgia. Passionate about Georgian culture and nature, Timothy also observes the rivers.
"My interest lies in the energy, where it comes from, where it goes. I also love walking, so I started exploring the rivers around Tbilisi to uncover their history," - says Timothy.
"Apart from the Mtkvari, Tbilisi is home to numerous smaller rivers, often overlooked and hidden from sight. Many of these rivers are filled with garbage, confined to drains, or buried in pipes, rendering them invisible to the city's daily life. They are not celebrated as part of Tbilisi's identity—nor, for that matter, is the Mtkvari itself."
He decided to document the rivers and share what he found. That's how he started an Instagram page, Tbilisi Rivers, which quickly gained popularity.
"It was surprising that I would go to places where I expected water, but there was none. Aside from seasonality, the drying of rivers is often caused by their connection to stormwater systems. This is how many rivers became part of the city's stormwater system.
"It was surprising that I would go to places where I expected water, but there was none. Aside from seasonality, the drying of rivers is often caused by their connection to stormwater systems. This is how many rivers became part of the city's stormwater system.
The cleanliness of the water is a big challenge as well. Rivers are often polluted with household and sewage waste."
According to Georgian Law on Water Resources, dumping waste into water bodies and sewage systems is prohibited. It's also illegal for individuals or companies to discharge wastewater that doesn't meet regulatory standards into sewage systems.
According to Georgian Law on Water Resources, dumping waste into water bodies and sewage systems is prohibited. It's also illegal for individuals or companies to discharge wastewater that doesn't meet regulatory standards into sewage systems.
კრწანისი, ვაზისუბანი, ლისი - ფოტო: ტიმოთე მერქელი
Timothy documents every polluted site. "I don't know if there's a single person in the government or NGOs who actually knows what is causing water pollution in Tbilisi," he says.
"Many people in Georgia today don't believe change is possible. There's a sense of nihilism and fear. But we're not yet at the point where nothing can be changed. While we may not see structural reform in the business sector, by voicing specific issues and spreading information, we might create a precedent and framework that could eventually be used more broadly," Timothy Merkel adds.
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- Legislation and Recommendations
Under Georgian law, the state is responsible for protecting water from harmful impacts and ensuring the effectiveness of purification facilities. With the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU, improving the ecological state of rivers and water resources has become a mandatory obligation for Georgia.
On June 30, 2023, Georgia's Parliament adopted the Law on Water Resources Management in its third reading. According to Nino Chkhobadze, the law should have been passed in 2020. Still, the process was delayed by opposition from specific ministries.
The water law includes several objectives, one of which requires the Agency for Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia to develop comprehensive measures to improve sewage systems in cities and villages by September 1, 2027.
"The Gardabani treatment plant is already performing biological and mechanical cleaning, but Tbilisi and Rustavi are not fully connected. Tbilisi's new boundaries are not included in the sewage system at all. This is a serious issue. We don't have treatment facilities on the Mtkvari. Every major city should have a treatment plant," states Chkhobadze.
On June 30, 2023, Georgia's Parliament adopted the Law on Water Resources Management in its third reading. According to Nino Chkhobadze, the law should have been passed in 2020. Still, the process was delayed by opposition from specific ministries.
The water law includes several objectives, one of which requires the Agency for Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia to develop comprehensive measures to improve sewage systems in cities and villages by September 1, 2027.
"The Gardabani treatment plant is already performing biological and mechanical cleaning, but Tbilisi and Rustavi are not fully connected. Tbilisi's new boundaries are not included in the sewage system at all. This is a serious issue. We don't have treatment facilities on the Mtkvari. Every major city should have a treatment plant," states Chkhobadze.
The slow pace of progress is also confirmed by 2022 statistics from GeoStat, showing that only 1.96 million people (52.4% of the population) are connected to the sewage network, which is only a 3.1% increase over the previous year.
In 2022, the population connected to sewage treatment plants reached 1.49 million (39.8% of the population), an increase of 9.6% from the previous year.
According to ISET's assessment, a comprehensive water management plan for Mtkvari should be developed to reduce the harmful impact of water pollution in Georgia, and specific pollution sources should be identified. Experts believe gradually improving Mtkvari's water quality requires rehabilitating outdated purification infrastructure and updating sewage and stormwater systems.
To further reduce pollution, they recommend introducing fees for surface water abstraction, pollution fees, and fines for illegal dumping.
Water resources management expert Tamar Gugushvili states, "When it comes to expanding networks and implementing other infrastructure projects, this typically cannot be done with the licensee's funds. The construction of wastewater collection and treatment systems involves significant investment costs, and such projects in Georgia's regions are generally funded with support from donors and international financial institutions."
To further reduce pollution, they recommend introducing fees for surface water abstraction, pollution fees, and fines for illegal dumping.
Water resources management expert Tamar Gugushvili states, "When it comes to expanding networks and implementing other infrastructure projects, this typically cannot be done with the licensee's funds. The construction of wastewater collection and treatment systems involves significant investment costs, and such projects in Georgia's regions are generally funded with support from donors and international financial institutions."
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This article was developed with the support of JournalismFund, within the framework of the Investigative Media Lab (IML) project.
ფოტო: ტიმოთე მერქელი
ავტორები:
ანა აბაშიძე
ნინო აფაქიძე
ნინო წვერავა
2024
ნინო აფაქიძე
ნინო წვერავა
2024
