Batumi Suburbs Have Problems in Water Supply

Keti Labadze, Adjara

Batumi suburbs were supplied with water with delays for the past few years. The problem resolution is planned in the third phase of water and sewerage system rehabilitation works. Advisor to the Batumi City Mayor said the rehabilitation works will finish in 2017.

Gulnazi Iremadze, resident of Tamari Settlement in Bautmi, has had water supply problem for over ten years. In rainy days she cannot get water and usually keeps bottles of water at home. “Very often reserved water is not enough; I live on the fourth floor and have to fetch water with heavy vessels. When I call Batumi Water Supply Company, they say the outdated water supply system needs rehabilitation.”

Representatives of Batumi Water Company clarified the city has alternative water-supply system. The water initially flows into reserve reservoirs and then is distributed in the city. So the city does not have problems in the supply. As for concrete districts (Boni, Gorodki, Tamari Settlement, Bartskhana), they have water supply problem because they are directly connected with the source construction. “During rains, the rain water tiers up with the drinking water and it is not filtered then; so we have to cut water supply in those districts. The system shall be rehabilitated in the suburbs because the system is old and it is difficult to exploit it,” PR-manager at the Ltd Batumi Water Irakli Parulava said.

Residents of suburbs complain about same water supply tariffs as residents of the city center, when they have problems in the supply. Batumi Water’s representatives clarified that people pay bills according to the counters. “the system was changed. In the past they paid live-stock fees but now they pay according to water-supply meters. If people do not have meters, then they pay according to old method,” Irakli Parulava said.

Advisor to the Batumi Mayor Jaba Tugushi said the tender on the rehabilitation was already announced; the works will start in summer. The tender aims to construct water-supply network, water reservoirs and water cleaning constructions in Chakvi. The tender also aims to construct networks in Green Cape and Makhinjauri settlements. “The third phase will finish by 2017; project activities have finished and now tender procedures are underway. Water systems will be rehabilitated in the districts, which were not repaired during first and second phases. The third phase aims to rehabilitate sewerage systems where water systems were already rehabilitated. In addition to that, full rehabilitation of water systems is planned in all five districts of Adjara Autonomous Republic and 20 million euro will be allocated for the purpose,” Jaba Tugushi said.

In total, 45 million Euro will be spent on the third phase of water-systems rehabilitation works; as a result, systems will be rehabilitated and constructed in Tamari, Boni-Gorodoki, Angisi and Airport Settlements. In parallel to it, Batumi self-government will spend 7 million euro on the rehabilitation of swamp drain system.