National Environment Agency says Black Sea water quality “within norm”

The National Environment Agency of Georgia on Friday said the quality of water in the Black Sea was “within the norm” along the “entire perimeter of the shoreline” following inspection of samples taken by the agency's 12 stations across the western Georgian coastline.

The body said the study had looked at “main physical and chemical parameters” of the samples, including concentration of 13 heavy metals, total petroleum hydrocarbon 16 polyaromatic hydrocarbons and other physico-chemical parameters.

The collected samples are being sent for analysis to the atmospheric air water and soil analysis laboratory of the Agency, which the body said “fully meets modern requirements and standards”.

The samples are taken every month across the coastline.