Water Quality Assessment in the Georgian Black Sea Basin

The Black Sea, with its unique hydrological regime and closed basin, requires special attention in terms of organic pollution, since an excess of organic substances leads to intensive oxygen consumption, which often becomes the cause of hypoxia and eutrophication. The paper discusses the assessment of the degree of pollution with organic compounds of the Black Sea water in Georgia, Port of Poti and adjacent industrial zones, using chemical and biochemical parameters in the context of ISO 6060 and ISO 5815 standards. Based on the results of the laboratory study, a high level of organic pollution COD (145 mg/l) and BOD5(16 mg/l) and a low biodegradability index BOD5/COD ratio (0.11) are noted. The results of the study determined the amount of oxygen required for aerobic microorganisms to decompose biodegradable organic substances in water.  As well as the equivalent amount of oxygen required for complete chemical oxidation of organic substances in water.