Water economy balance - the basis of water supply assessment

Abstract

Georgia has reach water resources, however, their unequal distribution creates a gap between the amounts of available and consumed water. The main goal of the study is to identify most vulnerable regions as regards water resources on a basis of Water Economy Balance. Kvemo Kartli has been taken as the region under study. Its area is 6.5 thousands of square km (that is 9.3% of the country territory). There are 347 settlements – 7 cities, 6 towns and 334 villages. Its natural conditions are most favorable for agricultural purposes with 2-3 harvests per year that stipulate for high competitiveness of the region in comparison with other ones. Different branches of industry such as mining, metallurgy, chemical production of cement and construction materials, ceramics, glass, etc., along with power generation plants are the most active water consumers in the region. The main problem of nearly all municipalities in the region are irrigation schemes which are depreciated or in poor state today. The existing problems of water supply hinder development of agricultural branches considerably. The hydrography network of Kvemo Kartli is repre-sented with trans-boundary river Mtkvari and its tributaries; 15 lakes are used for recreation, irrigation and fishing purposes; 6 reservoirs are used for fresh water supply, power and irrigation purposes. There are mineral, sulphur and thermal springs.