Effects of Urbanization on the Water Quality in the South Caucasus

The processes of urbanization influence the state of aqueous ecosystems. The urbanization pace in the South Caucasus countries is one of the world’s highest, it exceeds 50%. The crucial source of water in this region is the Kura-Araks River basin. In Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, the systems of water supply and sanitation as well as water treatment facilities were constructed still in the times of the Soviet Union. After the USSR disintegration, the operation and maintenance of these systems were not properly performed. Empirical data demonstrate the effect of urbanization on the aqueous ecosystem pollution in this region. This is connected with the legislative problems, general dilapidation of the water supply and sanitation systems, inadequate control of waste utilization, and the lack of permanent monitoring of the water quality. Additional pressure is created by the climate changes, such as temperature rise, reduction of precipitations in summer, decrease of river flow, and occurrence of extreme weather conditions. The programs of rehabilitation and refurbishment of the systems, including with international support, open the way to addressing successfully the issues of water resources pollution.