Environmental Agency: Black Sea water quality “within norm”

The Georgian National Environmental Agency on Friday said the Black Sea water quality was “within the norm” along the coastline, in its latest update of the data.

The Agency said the most recent studies had looked at total petroleum hydrobiological and chemical parameters of the water, including concentration of 13 heavy metals, total petroleum hydrocarbons and 16 polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

It added the water quality was being monitored every month in 12 locations, with samples sent to its Laboratory for Atmospheric Air, Water and Soil Analysis.

The body also said it was working in accordance with the European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive for improving the monitoring system.