Georgia’s environmental agency announces checks of Black Sea water once in 10 days amid pollution fears

The National Environment Agency of Georgia on Monday announced it would check the Black Sea water quality once every 10 days at nine stations, amid fears the Nova Kakhovka dam explosion in Ukraine and subsequent pollution could reach the shores of the sea amid the ongoing tourist season. 

“The samples taken will be sent for analysis to the atmospheric air water and soil analysis laboratory of the National Environment Agency, which fully meets modern requirements and standards. The laboratory is equipped with high-precision analytical tools and is accredited in accordance with the ISO 17025 standard,” the agency said. 

The agency on June 19 said according to checks the water quality was within the norm. 

The Kakhovka HPP dam on the Dnieper River in the Kherson region of Ukraine, currently under Russian control, collapsed on June 6, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of mining and then exploding the dam, while Moscow is shifting blame onto Ukrainian authorities. 

The collapse of the dam has caused a large-scale flood and an ecological disaster, with thousands evacuated. 

According to the Ukrainian authorities, at least 17 people were killed and 31 are considered missing in the territory controlled by it. The Russian occupation regime said 35 people died in the flood.