Safe water in Georgia: notices, drought and what to store

Short answer. Phaenyx found no national register of boil-water or do-not-drink notices for Georgia, and no public drinking-water results page from the health authorities: if your water becomes unsafe, expect the warning from your local supplier. Georgia's Emergency Management Service (EMS) asks households to keep 3 litres of water per person per day in a ready bag for the first 72 hours ¹.

How do I know if my tap water is unsafe?

In practice, the warning will come from your water supplier or your municipality, so keep their contact details with your emergency papers. Phaenyx found no official national system that publishes boil-water or do-not-drink notices in Georgia. We also found no page of drinking-water test results on the website of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC). How official warnings reach the public is explained on our Georgia alerts page.

If you are told to boil water or not to drink it, follow the local instruction. Our guides explain what each notice means: What to do during a boil-water notice and Do-not-drink notices. If the water is cut off altogether, see No running water.

How much water should I store?

Store 3 litres per person per day, according to the EMS booklet Rules of behaviour in emergencies, which puts water first on its list for a ready emergency bag covering the first 72 hours ¹. Over 72 hours that is 9 litres per person, or 36 litres for a household of four (simple multiplication of the official figure). The booklet sets no longer period and no separate figure for cooking or hygiene ¹.

The full official list is on our Georgia emergency supplies page. For storage and rotation, see How much water to store per person per day? and Water storage containers. To make doubtful water drinkable, see Water purification.

Is Georgia short of water?

Not on average. In WRI's Aqueduct 4.0 model, the population-weighted median of Georgian cities sits in the "low to medium" category for water stress today, and stays there in the 2050 business-as-usual projection ³. Drought risk is higher: "medium" ³. These are medians across 174 cities: a given town can sit higher or lower.

Phaenyx found no official Georgian page on drought or current water-use restrictions. If your area is under strain, follow your supplier's instructions, and see Drought preparedness.

What if I have a private well?

If you rely on a well or spring, testing and treatment are your own responsibility: Phaenyx found no official Georgian guidance for private well owners. If a well may be contaminated, for example after flooding, see Private well emergencies.

What should I do after a flood?

The 112 centre advises people in flood-prone areas to prepare in advance a list of things to take when evacuating, including medicines, water and food ². After a flood, it says to check the water supply and sewerage, not to drink unboiled water, and not to eat food that may have been in contact with the floodwater ². See Water safety after a flood.

A household plan can keep your water stock, your supplier's contacts and your warning channels in one place.

Frequently asked questions

Who announces boil-water notices in Georgia?

Your local water supplier or municipality announces them: Phaenyx found no national system for them. Follow its instructions.

How much water should a family of four store?

At 3 litres per person per day for the 72 hours the EMS plans for, 36 litres ¹.

Does Georgia have water shortages?

The median of Georgian cities is "low to medium" for water stress, now and in 2050, but "medium" for drought risk ³.

Is there official advice for private wells?

No: Phaenyx found none. See our private well guide.