Note: This service (781) is identical to services 568 and 634 ("Water Rights"). To create unique content, we will focus here on basin management principles, ecological flow, and transboundary water resources.
Water rights regulation in Georgia is entering a new phase, involving the implementation of European standards through the "Law on Water Resources Management." The basin management model views water resources not only as an economic asset but as an ecosystem that must be protected. This means water users are obliged to ensure "ecological flow" — the minimum amount of water in a river necessary to maintain biodiversity. These regulations are particularly important for owners of hydropower plants and large irrigation systems. Legal services in this field include registration as a water user, legal justification of water balance calculations, and disputes related to the use of transboundary water resources.
What Does Basin Management and Water Rights Service Cover?
Our experts help you comply with complex water resource management regulations:
- Basin Management Plans: Consulting on your project's compliance with river basin management plans.
- Ecological Flow Compliance: Legal monitoring of the obligation for HPPs and other users to maintain ecological flow.
- Water Balance Calculation: Preparing water abstraction and return balance for obtaining a license.
- Transboundary Waters: Disputes and agreements with neighboring countries (Azerbaijan, Turkey, Armenia) on the use of border rivers.
- Water Protection Strips: Ensuring compliance with activity restrictions in the riverbank zone (water protection strip).
- Water User Status: Registering as a water user and maintaining accounting/reporting.
Common Scenarios and Needs
Businesses often violate the law by building structures in the immediate vicinity of the riverbed (water protection strip), which is prohibited. Also, HPP operators have disputes with environmental inspection regarding the determination of ecological flow volume, as during water scarcity, this directly reduces electricity generation. For enterprises operating in the border zone, water allocation issues with neighboring states are relevant.
Georgian Legislation and Regulations
The field is regulated by the "Law on Water Resources Management" and the Government Decree "On Water Object Protection Strips." Transboundary water issues are governed by international treaties.
The Process: How a Specialist Works
The lawyer and hydrologist determine the enterprise's water consumption needs. An application is prepared to obtain water user status. If the project is located in a water protection strip, the lawyer helps obtain a special permit (exceptional case). In transboundary disputes, the lawyer is involved in negotiations with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Environmental Protection.
Why Legal.ge?
Water resource management requires knowledge of both national and international law. Legal.ge gives you access to lawyers with experience in the water sector and basin management principles. Specialists on our platform will help you use water resources sustainably and legally. Protect water rights with Legal.ge.
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