From September 2026, a new law on water resources management will enter into force in Georgia, while the 1997 Law on Water will be repealed. The new legislation aims to ensure the protection of water resources and their sustainable use. It brings Georgia’s water management policy closer to international best practices and aligns it with the principles applied in the European Union. This blog explores the key differences between the 1997 Water Law and the new law.
1. River Basin Management
Unlike the 1997 Law on Water, which regulated water resources based on administrative boundaries, the new law introduces river basin management.
Until now, each municipality was responsible for managing the water located within its own territory. In the case of rivers, this responsibility extended only to the river section flowing through the municipality. As a result, rivers were managed in a fragmented manner, which proved to be inherently inefficient.
From September 2026, water resources management in Georgia will be carried out by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture in accordance with river basin management principles.
A river basin is a land area delineated by elevated terrain from which a river system collects surface runoff. A river basin district consists of one or more neighboring river basins and also includes groundwater bodies connected to these rivers, as well as coastal waters. Coastal waters refer to waters extending one nautical mile seaward from the coastline.
River basin and river basin district management plans are not based on administrative boundaries but on the integrated management of water bodies in line with the core principles of integrated water resources management. Consequently, a river basin or basin district is managed as a single unit, regardless of how many municipalities or regions it crosses.
Georgia has a total of seven river basin districts:
- Alazani–Iori River Basin District
- Mtkvari–Tergi River Basin District
- Khrami–Debeda River Basin District
- Enguri River Basin District
- Rioni River Basin District
- Chorokhi–Ajaristskali River Basin District
- Bzipi–Kodori River Basin District
2. The Concept of Environmental Flow
Unlike the 1997 Water Law, the new law introduces the concept of “environmental flow.” This refers to the quantity of water, its temporal variability, quality, and level required to sustain freshwater ecosystems and the livelihoods and well-being of people and ecosystems that depend on them. Accordingly, a minimum amount of water must always remain in a river, and its quality must be maintained at a level necessary for the healthy functioning of the ecosystem.
Article 29 of the law, “Basic Requirements for the Protection of Water Resources,” explicitly prohibits water abstraction from rivers or the construction of hydrotechnical, industrial, or irrigation systems without consideration of environmental flow requirements.
Permits for special water use on surface water bodies will be issued based on river basin management plans and the environmental flow of the river. A technical regulation defining the procedures and conditions for issuing such permits will be adopted by 1 September 2026.
3. Water Quality Assessment
The 1997 Water Law classified water bodies based on their hydrographic characteristics, location, scientific, aesthetic, and economic significance, and assigned them a status according to state importance. Twenty-two rivers were granted special state importance, including the Mtkvari River, while 67 rivers were classified as having state importance.
The new law assesses water bodies based on ecological status, chemical status, and ecological potential. Classification must take into account quantitative, biological, hydromorphological, and physico-chemical indicators. In the case of groundwater bodies, geological-hydrological, quantitative, physico-chemical, and qualitative indicators are assessed. This detailed analysis enables the timely identification of challenges and the planning of measures to protect or restore water ecosystems.
In the next blog, we will present examples showing how the same rivers are classified under the state importance system and under the ecological status framework, and explain the advantages of classifying water bodies based on their physical characteristics.
4. Participation of Individuals and Legal Entities in Decision-Making
The 1997 law granted individuals and legal entities the right to participate in water protection activities and to access information. In addition to these rights, the new law ensures cooperation between public institutions and private actors in the decision-making process.
According to Article 25 of the law, the public has the right to participate in the development of river basin or river basin district management plans. For the purpose of reviewing final drafts, advisory bodies known as consultative and coordination councils will be established under the Ministry. These councils will include representatives of the Ministry and other competent authorities, as well as municipalities and companies that have a significant impact on water resources in the relevant area. These include water supply and hydropower companies, large water users, water user associations, and others. The composition of the councils is approved by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. A technical regulation governing the establishment and operation of the councils must be adopted.
5. Strengthened Monitoring
Unlike the 1997 law, the new legislation introduces a specific monitoring and accountability system that clearly defines the conditions for special water use, the procedures for issuing, suspending, and revoking water use permits, their duration, and responses to violations.
As a result, the law imposes certain responsibilities on businesses, including the provision of data and the introduction of technological solutions for water treatment and sustainable water use.
Conclusion
With the adoption of the new law, Georgia is transitioning from an administratively fragmented system to integrated and sustainable water resources management. While this presents new challenges for both the state and businesses, it also helps ensure the preservation of the country’s water security, unique biodiversity, and ecotourism potential for current and future generations.
However, it must also be noted that one of the greatest challenges in the water resources management sector is the lack of effective enforcement. Although the law requires the proper operation of wastewater treatment facilities and equipment, many companies discharge polluted water into rivers without treatment. In most cases, such violations go unaddressed by the state, or the response is so disproportionate that companies continue polluting the environment without consequences. As a result, all the advantages that distinguish the new law from the old one risk remaining merely formal without genuine political will and effective enforcement.