World Water Resources Day Forum at GTU

“At the Georgian Technical University, we celebrate World Water Day annualy. This is a date that is particularly important both in terms of environmental protection and the sustainable development of humanity. Water is the basis of life, one of the main prerequisites for the development of civilization, and a strategic resource, the management of which remains one of the biggest challenges of the modern world. Climate change, increased urbanization, irrational use, and pollution of water resources are problems that force us to approach water management issues even more deeply and responsibly. The modern world is changing rapidly, and adaptation to these changes is impossible without the active involvement of the younger generation. It is the students who represent the intellectual and innovative force that can offer new visions, approaches, and technologies to Georgia and the world. I welcome the forum dedicated to World Water Day, which is hosted by the Georgian Technical University, and I wish success to the event participants”, said Academician David Gurgenidze, Rector of the Georgian Technical University, in a special address on the occasion of World Water Resources Day.

The fifth forum dedicated to the World Water Resources Day was attended by specialists, scientists, students and guests – David Narmania, Chairman of the Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission; Beka Barbakadze, Deputy Director of the United Water Supply Company; Nino Sulkhanishvili, Head of the Integrated Management Systems Department of the Georgian Water and Power (GWP) Company; Paata Tsintsadze, Technical Director of Enguri HPP LLC, specialists, experts in the fields of water supply, energy and hydroengineering, representatives of companies operating in the sectors, scientific and academic circles and students of the Georgian Technical University.

The event, organized by the Faculty of Construction, the Faculty of Mining Geology and Sustainable Mountain Development, the Research Institute of Water Management, and the Research Institute of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology at GTU, was opened by the President of the University’s Supervisory Board.

As Professor Zurab Gudavadze stated in his welcoming speech, the forum will discuss the challenges in water engineering and scientific and technological ways to solve them, where scientists, practitioners, and the younger generation will share their visions with each other. According to him, more than 730 types of mineral water are extracted in Georgia, the country has 26,060 rivers, about 860 lakes, 786 glaciers, 44 reservoirs, and 8 waterfalls.

“I would like to emphasize the role of students, together with our scientists, in the process of finding scientific ways to overcome the challenges in water engineering and their solutions. The university attaches special importance to the involvement of students in research activities. Along with the educational process, they are given the opportunity to participate in scientific projects, work in modern laboratories, and collaborate with both local and international experts. This experience deepens their professional knowledge. It is important that students are not limited to theoretical knowledge alone. Water resources management requires a complex, interdisciplinary vision, where engineering, ecology, economics, and social sciences are closely interconnected. It is precisely the combination of this multifaceted knowledge that creates the basis for sustainable and effective solutions”, said Zurab Gudavadze.

At the forum, researchers and specialists discussed topics that address local, regional and global challenges: Innovative technologies for the purification of non-ferrous metallurgy wastewater from heavy metals – prospects for sustainable development; Determination of the main characteristics of soil and subsoil for predicting water-borne erosion processes; Approximate analytical approaches for predicting mudflows in reservoirs and assessing the risks of dam overflow; Modern challenges in water supply exploitation – protection of groundwater from pollution and draining. Assessment of the modern quality of the Black Sea and rivers flowing into it; Resource potential of mineral waters of Georgia and their rational use; Priorities for the energy utilization of water resources of Georgia; Protection of water resources and modern technologies for drinking water purification; Nomenclature of costs for the maintenance and operation of Kolkheti’s drying systems and their calculation norms.

At the end of the event, the forum organizers awarded the winners of the International Student Conference organized by the GTU Faculty of Construction, as well as the winners of the 3rd Photo Contest for students and pupils organized by the Faculty of Mining Geology and Sustainable Mountain Development of GTU in connection with this year’s World Water and Glacier Day. In addition, the forum participants were presented with the second experimental issue of the faculty magazine, published jointly by the teachers and students of the Faculty of Mining Geology, and Sustainable Mountain Development.