Current status and future challenges of fresh groundwater assessment in Georgia

Groundwater assessment can be considered a base and effective management tool to protect groundwater resources. Fresh groundwater assessment is a multi-component system that is different for each country and depends on existing anthropogenic pressures or ongoing natural processes. However, the key and necessary for all countries is to have groundwater quantitative and qualitative data. These data are essential for groundwater resource assessment and management. Our goal is to review the main issues that reflect the current status of fresh groundwater assessment and management in Georgia and the future challenges that the country must gradually overcome. Although the study of fresh groundwater resources has a long history in our country, there are currently many challenges for sustainable groundwater management. This is caused by several factors, of which its worth noting: Since the beginning of the 1990s, the monitoring of observed waterpoints has been discontinued; Since then-until now, uncontrolled drilling of boreholes to obtain fresh drinking water; The oldness of the technical condition of existing wells; The lack of information on groundwater quality and quantity in aquifers; The termination of updating hydrogeological maps and the absence of historical materials in digital format. In addition to the above topics, there is a lack of qualified personnel, which is especially felt after the renewal of hydrogeological monitoring by the Geology Department of the LEPL National Environmental Agency. Despite the above and even in conditions of small resources, it became possible, and in recent years, the foundation was laid for the gradual elimination of existing challenges, such important activities as: Renewal of fresh drinking groundwater monitoring, expanding the national monitoring network every year with state efforts and the support of donor organizations; Annually, with the support of the state and donors, the expansion of the national monitoring network; Implementation of online monitoring methodology (remote monitoring of groundwater is carried out by automatic and instrumental stations); Field sampling and preliminary hydrogeological field survey for selection of relevant monitored waterpoints; Groundwater sampling according to the EU Water Framework Directive; Search and systematization of historical materials; Beginning delineation of groundwater bodies; Beginning transboundary groundwater survey; On the basis of the new law On Water Resources Management, which was approved by the Parliament of Georgia on June 30, 2023, the resolution of the Government of Georgia is being prepared with the relevant technical regulations: State registration of drilling wells for the purpose of extracting fresh drinking groundwater. The mentioned works allowed the country to participate in the appropriate periodic reporting of the progress of the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) and in the step-by-step implementation of the Georgia-EU Association Agreement. Besides, in 2023, in the Department of Geology of the National Environmental Agency, a new structural unit - Hydrogeological Monitoring and Technical Maintenance Division, was created. The goal is to expand and improve the activities listed above by introducing modern methodologies. Accordingly, the issue of providing staff resources with appropriate qualifications is on the agenda, which requires effective solutions and activities, including in the educational direction.