Working to Achieve a Clean Water Supply For
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www.euneighbours.eu GEORGIA WATER This project is funded by the European Union This project is funded by the European Union Working to achieve a clean water supply for all EU support for a more reliable water infrastructure EUEU NEIGHBOURS NEIGHBOURS southsouth easteast EUEU NEIGHBOURS NEIGHBOURS southsouth EUEU NEIGHBOURS NEIGHBOURS easteast www.euneighbours.eu | P. 1 This project is funded by the European Union A water purification system in Racha, western Georgia (Photo: Tamar Khurtsia © EU/EU Neighbours East) Many parts of Georgia still suffer from irregular water supply, with a significant impact on the lives and livelihoods in the towns and villages affected. Now, with EU support through a water infrastructure modernisation project, the taps are beginning to run again, delivering clean water to homes and businesses, improving living standards and contributing to regional development Text By Tamar Khurtsia Tkibuli, Georgia - Irma Bregadze lives in Tkibuli, a town on the northern edge of Imereti region, a coal-mining centre 235km north-west of Georgia’s capital Tbilisi. Like Tkibuli’s other 12,000 residents, her family struggles for access to a constant and safe supply of tap water – all the homes in Tkibuli receive tap water for less than 4 hours per day. Thus, residents of the town have to be This publication has been produced with dependent on spring waterfalls and wells. the assistance of the European Union. The key problems facing Tkibuli’s water management is the out-dated The contents of this and severely run down infrastructure, suffering from underinvestment and document are the sole responsibility of the inadequate maintenance. Consortium led by Ecorys (UK) and can The situation only improved a month ago, when Bregadze’s family and her in no way be taken to neighbours started to receive tap water for more than 8 hours per day, a result reflect the views of the European Union. of the ongoing Water Infrastructure Modernisation II project, funded by the European Union, in particular with a Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF) EU NEIGHBOURS investment grant of EUR 8 million, and EUR 40 million loan from the European south east Investment Bank (EIB), which go towards supporting the refurbishment and upgrading of municipal water facilities in Georgia. This project is funded by theEU Eu rNEIGHBOURSopean Union south EU NEIGHBOURS east www.euneighbours.eu | P. 2 “When we were turning on taps, the water was coming out the colour and taste of rust, because there were damaged water pipes, as Thiswell pasroject because is funded of by the European Union “When we were problems at the water source where the drinking water originates,” Bregadze turning on taps, said. “Rehabilitation work has just finished in our district of the town and the schedule of receiving the tap water has improved, but still we do not trust the the water was quality of the water and for drinking we bring the water from nearby springs,” coming out the she added. colour and taste of Rehabilitation of drinking water infrastructure rust, because there were damaged Rehabilitation works for the Tkibuli drinking water supply system worth GEL 4.5 water pipes, as million, were launched this April, and will take up 22 months to implement. The Gamgebeli (local Governor) of Tkibuli, Robizon Gvenetadze, believes that once well as because the rehabilitation works are complete, 90% of residents will have access to a of problems at the constant supply of water. water source where “Tkibuli receives the drinking water from Shaori water reservoir (located in the drinking water Racha, a highland area in western Georgia) and soon in the framework of this originates.” project we will manage to implement the modern technologies of water filtration to supply hygienically sound water,” said Zaza Zosiashvili, the Head of the Irma Bregadze, Infrastructure Unit at the Municipality of Tkibuli. President of Tkibuli In addition, the project will deliver a fully functioning water supply and wastewater disposal system in the town. The Water Infrastructure Modernisation II project, which builds on the work of an earlier phase of the project, aims to maintain the continuity of the water supply, reduce leakages in the water supply system and improve water quality across 23 cities in Georgia by 2018. The Municipal Development Fund of Georgia, a government body responsible for strengthening the institutional and financial capacity of local government units, is implementing the project. Tea Garibashvili, a Project Manager from the Fund, said that currently 16 rehabilitation projects have been implemented in 17 cities across Georgia, Akhmeta, Lagodekhi, Sagarejo, Telavi (Kurdghelauri village), Tkibuli, Zestafoni, Abasha, Khobi, Senaki, Qareli, Tsalka, Bolnisi, Likani, Tsagveri, Dusheti, Sighnaghi and Tsnori. Meanwhile, six cities have already benefitted from the project, including Gurjaani, Oni, Akhaltsikhe, Aspindza, Tetritskaro and Ozurgeti. “Oni is the only city in the framework of the project where 100% of the population receives drinking water 24 hours per day. In other cities, there is still a daily schedule,” Garibashvili said. The aim is to provide clean drinking water in all homes. (Photo: Tamar Khurtsia © EU/EU Neighbours East) EU NEIGHBOURS south east EU NEIGHBOURS south EU NEIGHBOURS east www.euneighbours.eu | P. 3 A boost for the rural population This project is funded “I run a family hotel Makvala Berishvili, from Oni, a town in a highland province byin westernthe European Georgia, Union in Oni and there who runs a family hotel, confirmed that they are now receiving a reliable supply was a period when of water. “I run a family hotel in Oni and there was a period when we were receiving the tap water only for a few hours per day. For the development of a we were receiving small hospitality business, it is essential to have normal living conditions for the the tap water only guests. If you do not have water or electricity in the modern age, tourists will not for a few hours come. This business is the only income for my family and if I did not have it, our social and economic condition would be worse,” she said. per day … If you Garibashvili said the project would contribute greatly to the rural population’s do not have water social and economic development. “We welcome the European Union’s efforts or electricity in to contribute to the regional development of the country by financing vital projects that aim increase the living standards of the citizens of Georgia,” she the modern age, said. tourists will not come.” More balanced and sustainable socio-economic development Makvala Berishvili, Giorgi Kezherashvili, the Head of Division of Reforms and Innovations at the Hotel manager Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, highlighted the EU’s role in Georgia’s regional development, in the framework of the Regional Development Programme - Phase I and II, launched in 2011 and 2014 respectively. One of the main instruments for implementing the policy is the “2015-2017 Regional Development Programme”, which is based on, and largely in line with, the EU Cohesion Policy experience of recent decades, aimed at the reduction of Irma Bregadze, a disparities between regions. This policy was significantly strengthened in the Tkibuli resident, now 1990s to provide assistance to weak member states and later was applied to enjoys an improved meet the needs of new member states. water supply to her home During the period 2015-2017, around GEL 3.7 billion will be spent for 5 main (Photo: Tamar Khurtsia priority objectives: the improvement of physical infrastructure and environmental © EU/EU Neighbours protection; supporting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises East) and the creation of new jobs; rural development; tourism development; and improvement of human capital and the development of institutional capacity for vocational education at national and sub-national levels. The latest report on Regional Disparities in Georgia finds that there is a huge degree of disparities between urban and rural areas, and between Tbilisi and the other regions. EU NEIGHBOURS south east EU NEIGHBOURS south EU NEIGHBOURS east www.euneighbours.eu | P. 4 It is important that Georgian regions emerge as key players for determining overall national success, given that the main drivers of growthThis and p rdevelopmentoject is funded by the European Union “We welcome the arise exactly at regional and local levels. According to Kezherashvili, the “2015- European Union’s 2017 Regional Development Programme” will support the Georgian government efforts to contribute in creating a favourable environment for the socio-economic development of to the regional the country, and for its territorial entities to overcome regional disparities and development of significantly increase their competitiveness. the country by financing vital projects that aim increase the living standards of the citizens of Georgia.” Tea Garibashvili, Municipal Development Fund of Georgia A water purification system in Racha, western Georgia (Photo: Tamar Khurtsia © EU/EU Neighbours East) Water Infrastructure Modernisation project The aim of the project is to build, rehabilitate and modernise the municipal water sector infrastructure in the country. The project is an intermediary step towards the ultimate goal of providing a water supply of acceptable quality to all urban dwellers in Georgia. The second phase of the project is funded by the European Union, with a Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF) investment grant of 8 million euros, and 40 million euro loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB). EU NEIGHBOURS south east EU NEIGHBOURS south EU NEIGHBOURS east.