This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the consultants Grigol Abramia, Giorgi Dzamukashvili and water expert Alexander Mindorashvili, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Introduction
The case study was initiated under the "Facilitating exchanges of experiences and best practices between Armenia, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova on equitable access to safe drinking water in frame of UNECE/WHO Protocol on Water and Health" and funded by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF).
This case study's major goal is to examine the issues surrounding rural Georgian communities who lack adequate access to safe drinking water in Borjomi Municipality Resorts: Kvibisi, Chobiskhevi and Akhaldaba, Georgia
Georgia has signed the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) / WHO Protocol on Water and Health, an international accord aimed at ensuring everyone has access to clean water and proper sanitation. Georgia has undertaken effective steps that have increased access to sanitation, particularly in rural regions, despite the fact that it is not a Party and is not compelled to set targets for the water supply and sanitation sectors and evaluate progress. The water sector policy reform possibilities to be included in the post-pandemic development process are analyzed by the EU4Environment Water and Data Programme (years ???).
National Policy Dialogues, which have been held in Georgia since 2010 with European Union assistance, serve as a multi-stakeholder forum to address important water policy issues with civil society and representatives from various sectors (agricultural, health, energy, industry, land management, transportation, etc.). The creation of the national water law based on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) principles, establishing goals for implementing the Protocol on Water and Health, and transboundary water cooperation with neighboring Azerbaijan and Armenia. In Georgia, policy documents (such as the Third National Environmental Action Programme of Georgia (2017-2021) and laws (such as the Water Law) that lay the groundwork for water resource management are primarily responsible for regulating the management of water resources. A draft new water law that attempts to mimic aspects of the EU acquis, particularly the Water Framework Directive, has been in development for a number of years. However,  a draft new water law that attempts to mimic aspects of the EU acquis been adopted yet.
The UN Water Convention and indicator 6.5.2 reporting on transboundary water cooperation are both covered by the EU4Environment Water and Data programme, which makes it easier to report on past achievements and anticipate future needs. The main upstream nation on the Kura River that empties into Azerbaijan is Georgia. There is still no transboundary agreement signed under the (UNECE) Water Convention despite extensive debates and research.

The EU Water Framework Directive's core concept is the use of the river basin as a territorial management unit. River basin management's degree of decentralization enables local water issues to be resolved, which may be more difficult for a central state administration to handle. The management of the river basin ensures fair access to water and the long-term sustainability of water resources by taking into account the needs of various water users as well as the balance between the economy (uses) and ecosystems (protection).

The majority of Georgia's land is covered by planning documents at the River Basin District level, including the Chorokhi RBMP, Rioni River flood risk plan, and most recently created Alazani-Iori and Khrami-Debeda RBMPs (2021). Due to the delay in the implementation of Georgia's new water law, the adoption of existing RBMPs is still pending. The desire exists to keep creating RBMPs for other River Basin Districts, particularly for the Enguri and Rioni basins.

Map of Borjomi Municipality (Source: Borjomi Municipality)

The initiative encourages the creation of a sustainable basin council to direct the implementation of RBMPs in the river basins and supports the essential delineation work of the Enguri and Rioni River Basin districts.

Monitoring of water quality indicates the condition of rivers, lakes, beaches, and groundwater. It includes monitoring water quality repeatedly (with set parameters and frequency) by field sampling, laboratory analysis, and data interpretation. The EU Water Framework Directive firstly relies on ecological monitoring (biological and hydromorphological monitoring) to ascertain the current state of indicator species in each local water body. In order to provide information on the current condition of all surface and groundwater (intact or degraded) as well as the impact of measures taken for its rehabilitation, the results of water monitoring are incorporated into River Basin Management Plans.
Georgia currently lacks an institutionalized body to direct stakeholder engagement procedures in the river basin, such as a River Basin Council. The program, which is sponsored by the EU, encourages the growth and continued institutionalization of River Basin Council meetings. The initiative also helps Georgian stakeholders in the Rioni and Enguri river basins strengthen their capacity to come to consensus on the essential steps to ensure that the water is of good quality and prevent its depletion.

• Overview of Problems

According to the latest report of the Global Environment Program (2012), 98% of the population in Georgia would benefit from improved water supply sources, and 95% would benefit from improved sanitation. Nevertheless, there is a significant difference between urban and rural areas in the issue of centralized water supply at home, this figure is 92% in urban settlements, and 51% in rural settlements.
Georgia has been actively collaborating with the Secretariat of the Protocol on Water and Health and its structural divisions since 2010 despite the fact that it is not a party. Country has implementd number of projects under the Protocol on Water and Health (WHO/UNiCEF/JMP-Progress on Drinking Water and Sanitation. UNICEF2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, Investments in Water Supply and Sanitation - OECD-СRC-2015; WHO/UNICEF-2015, GLAAS (2016; 2018); WASH (2016,2018); Statistical Weightings Used for the 2016, Statistical Weightings Used for the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), WHO Communication Center of Water Resources, Health Protection Cooperation and Risk Management, Bonn University -2016; GeoStat 2016, 2017)Draft suggestions for the identification of target indicators for 8 sectors were developed at the first stage of the National Policy discussion on integrated water resources management (2011-2015), but they were not formally adopted. At a higher level, discussions on ratifying the Protocol were regularly ongoing, but the procedure wasn't finished. Georgia has therefore been at the second stage of the national policy dialogue since 2015, which entails the following:

• the ratification of the Protocol on Water and Health;
• the development and implementation of national objective indicators;
• and the improvement of mutual collaboration in the area of transboundary river management (river management);

The "Third National Action Plan of Environment Protection" (2017) and the "Second National Action Plan of Environment and Health" (2018) both incorporate sustainable development objectives, including drinking water and sanitation concerns. By adopting these papers, the nation took on the responsibility of formulating policy and actual implementation procedures. The development of national legislation as well as methods for international and national coordination and collaboration have been defined. The implementation of protocol requirements in terms of sustainable development goals will be made easier by this kind of integration.
The National Rural Development Strategy of Georgia 2017-2020, Social and Economic Development Strategies of the Regions of Georgia 2018-2021 No. 1292, and Social and Economic Development Strategies of Georgia "-2020" No400 reflect the issues of water supply for the population and improving water quality. Georgia's Mountainous Population Development Strategy 2019–2023, among other things, 30.12.2016. The following is reflected in these documents: - the need to pinpoint specific issues and priorities; - the need to address issues with rural communities' access to safe, high-quality drinking water and sanitary facilities.
The amount of people who have access to drinking water has increased recently. International agencies (WHO, UNiCEF, JMP-Progress on Drinking Water and Sanitation) have conducted research in this area. WHO/UNICEF-2015, GLAAS (2016; 2018); WASH (2016, 2018); Statistical Weightings Used for the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), WHO Communication Center of Water Resources, Health Protection Cooperation and Risk Management, Bonn University -2016; GeoStat 2016, 2017)), in 2014 the figure of population supplied by relatively high quality.

• Drinking Water Supply in Borjomi Municipality

The municipality of Borjomi is a part of Georgia's southern Samtskhe-Javakheti region. It occupies a region of roughly 1,189 km2 and is located among the Lesser Caucasus Mountain Ranges' Meskheti and Trialeti mountain ranges.
The mountain ranges of the Borjomi municipality can be found up to 2,500 meters above sea level, whereas the main town of Borjomi is situated between 800 and 950 meters above sea level. With regard to temperature and precipitation, it is geographically located in three distinct climatic zones: the humid colchic zone, the temperate central Caucasian zone, and the dry continental Caucasian zone. The municipality is located 157 kilometers from the national capital Tbilisi and 50 kilometers from the regional hub Akhaltsikhe.
Borjomi town, one borough (Bakuriani), and nine communities—Akhaldaba, Tsagveri, Balanta, Dviri, Kvibisi, Tabatskuri, Tadzrisi, Tba, and Tsikhisjvari—make up the 11 administrative units.
The United Water Supply Company of Georgia (UWSCG), a corporation delegated to the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, manages the centralized drinking water supply systems for the citizens of Borjomi city and Bakuriani town through the respective service centers in Borjomi and Bakuriani. The Borjomi system has newly recovered. A cutting-edge 12-filter water treatment unit with a 140 l/sec designed capacity is also available.

A comparable facility was also constructed and put into operation in the town of Bakuriani. Over 80% of Borjomi residents have access to constant water supply. The remaining people get water on a regular basis (8- 10 hours).

In Bakuriani town, construction and rehabilitation projects are currently underway. These projects include the addition of a new headwork, the rehabilitation of an existing one, the replacement of an aging main pile, the building of wells, the rehabilitation of collector chambers, a pumping station, and a water treatment facility. The majority of people in Bakuriani and Borjomi have water meters.

It is important to highlight that Borjomi City has a very well-equipped drinking water quality control laboratory that monitors the water's quality against key biological, and chemical parameters on a daily basis.

LLC Borjomi Rural Water Supply Service provides piped drinking water to 23 villages, including Timotesubani, Tsemi, Lake, Akhaldaba, Andeziti, Chitakhevi, Chobiskhevi, Kvabiskhevi, Dviri, Vardgineti Zanavi, Rveli, Cortaneti, Kvibisi, Chikharula, Balanta, Tsikhisjvari, Moliti, Tabatskuri, Dgvar, Sakire, Tadzrisi, Mzetamze, total of 13,881 inhabitants.

The village has 46 separate headworks, the majority of which are supplied by various springs. By way of several collectors, water from the source enters reservoirs where it is distributed to the population. 99% of the rural population has access to water.

Some are on schedule because of a lack of source water. The population is occasionally supplied with untreated "technical" water. The damaged parts span a total of around 15 kilometers and are situated in several villages. Thirty percent of the headworks require repair.

• Key Challenges

During the last 10 years, drinking water quality control was carried out annually in up to 50 cities and districts, the total number of samples taken ranged from 40,000 to 68,000, including 20,500 - 29,000 for sanitary-chemical tests, and 18 for sanitary-bacteriological deductions. 23 800 more samples. 16.7% - 20.7% of the total number of samples did not comply with the normative requirements.
The majority of people have access to clean water. The central water distribution system provides fresh water to city centers and certain rural areas. Some locals use the running water faucets in the village neighborhoods to collect their water. Due to the water distribution system's poor state, a substantial amount of water is lost. Only a small portion of the region's land is reported for the amount of utilised water.

It should be mentioned that the region's fresh water supply is damaged and requires repair in about 70-80% of the cases repair.

Fresh Water Supply System Condition in Samtskhe-Javakheti

Source: Samtskhe-Javakheti Water Supply & Sewerage Company

Source: Georgia urbanization report, World Bank, 2012

• Well Water Inventory and Monitoring

Field Study Visit to  Borjomi municipality (Akhaldaba, Kvibisi, Zanavi) (Stage-1);
Our Project Implementation Team (PIT) provided field study visit at  Borjomi municipality (Akhaldaba, Kvibisi, Zanavi) field trip for inventory of local drinking water wells and their technical and chemical analyses
(further details you may see at https://www.icfer.org.ge/well.html)
Photo 1. Akhaldba (21.09.2023) left to right: CBO Borjomi member, Georgian acter Tristan Saralidze (local well owner), Alexander Mindorashvili, MEA, Kakha Neparidze, ICFER,
Grgol Abramia, PIT, George Dzamukashvili, PIT


 Akhaldba (21.09.2023) left to right: CBO Borjomi member, Georgian acter Tristan Saralidze, Alexander Mindorashvili, MEA, Kakha Neparidze, ICFER,
Grgol Abramia, PIT, George Dzamukashvili, PIT
Akhaldaba wells’ inventory

T. Saralidze is taking water samples	A. Mindorashvili is writing notes	Local volunteer
T. Saralidze is taking water samples	A. Mindorashvili is writing notes	Taking water samplel

 

• Time of research:  21.09.2023
• Area, district, settlement, street: Borjomi municipality: Akhaldaba, Kvibisi, Zanavi (Total-18 Wells)
• Well  N (See Annex)
• Location of well:
• Street: 3
• Yard : 9
• Distance between houses: 2
• Garden: 4
• Orchard:
• On the right place: 12
• on an elevated slope
• In the ravine
• Near the ravine
• Existence of slope drainage ditch: in four  cases yes; in fourteen cases no

• Possibility of covering the well during snow melting, torrential rains, floods: in 10 cases- yes, but in 8 cases-no

 

• The source of possible contamination is located above or below the well: above-6, above and below 7, none-5

• Type of well:

 

•  pillar -2

• concrete -16

 

• brick or other material

• How far is the well from  toilet, house, manure pit, sewage System, septic tank and other possible sources?

       There are wells in 10 meters distance-5;  20 meters distance-4; 30 meters distance-4; 40 meters distance-1; 50 meters distance-2.

• How far is it from the highway?

 There are wells in 10 meters distance-5; 20 meters distance-1; 30 meters distance-2. In distance more than 30 meters meters-9; less than 5 meters-1.

• The height of the well wall from the ground level?

 

There are wells with following walls from the ground: 0,7-3;   0,8-4;  1,5-11.

 

• The depth of the well from the ground surface to the water mirror

There are wells with following depth: about 10 meters-8; about 15 meters-7; more than 15 meters-3.

• Try type of the wellhead:

 

• Wooden ring -2
• metal cover -1
• Metal mesh -10
• reinforced concrete closure-4

• Wellhead equipment:

 

• Booth-7
• Shed – 3
• None-10

 

• The bottom of the well body is covered with clay, brick and concrete- all of them are covered

 

• What is the body of the well? Concrete.

 

• The condition of the soil around the well

• It is paved  -14

 

• It's not paved-4

 

• If not, the well is cleaned once a year: 6 yes, 12 no.

• Does they provide  cleaning?

        4 well owners provided, chlorine treatment
14 well owners do not provide treatment
Well owners provided, chlorine treatment subsequent washing

• Results of microbiological analysis of water samples from Borkom valley wells

 

4.1 Stage I

Laboratory of Microbial Ecology G. Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology www.eliava-institute.org provided a study on: 5 samples of drinking water (well) were examined, taken from different locations: Akhaldaba, 1, Akhaldaba 2, Qvibisi 1, Qvibisi 2 and Zenavi. These sites are likely to be diluted by location (elevation), population density, and proximity to potential pollution sources.

According to the obtained results, the most polluted samples were Kvibis 1 and Kvibis 2, as well as moderately polluted - Akhaldaba 2, less polluted - Zenavi and practically clean - Akhaldaba 1 (see the attached file with tables for each location).

The trial treatment of water samples with the commercial preparation "Intestiphage" (volume ratio phage/water 1:10), carried out at the customer's request, gave contradictory results: on the one hand, in all water samples, the degree of total bacterial wetting increased dramatically, and on the other hand, it also increased, but much less. , Indicators of sanitary pollution (total and faecal coliforms, enterococci). (See attached Annex -2  with tables). The interpretation of the obtained results is as follows: when phage is added and incubated for an additional 24 hours, the bacteria in the water are given nutrients (phage preparations contain a certain amount of nutrients because they are prepared on a rich microbiological nutrient broth), which helps them multiply for an additional 24 hours at room temperature. This refers to all the bacteria (total microbial count) contained in the test samples. As for the bacteria that cause fouling pollution, a moderate increase in their number to some extent indicates the possible action of the intestinal phage and its inhibition of the intensive growth of these bacteria. Of course, it is impossible to say anything decisively here, because the standard microbiological analysis of water aims only at the overall quantitative assessment of microorganisms and the determination of the number of individual faecal bacteria groups. Specifically, which genus or species of bacteria are present in this sample, which are the leading bacteria and whether they are sensitive to the components of Intesitphage used, this will be possible in a separate, more detailed study.

In addition to the plan set by us, a control experiment was conducted to check the influence of nutrients in the phage preparation (see the opinion expressed above). An additional study of one of the samples - Akhaldaba 1 (actually a clean sample) showed us that stopping water for 24 hours by itself causes a small increase in bacterial hydration, and for the same sample, the addition of food broth (1:10) gives a significant boost to bacterial growth. growth, which moves this sample into the polluted water category.

Finally, in order to determine the purity of drinking (well) water reservoirs in rural settlements, the status and source of pollution, as well as to draw conclusions about the expediency of using bacteriophage preparations to reduce or prevent pollution (as well as which phage, prepared in what solution, in what quantity would be effective) it is recommended Conducting a detailed scientific research that would answer all the issues raised.

4.1.1  Results of microbiological examination of water:- Akhaldaba 1 (Vazha Asanidze)

As a result of the conducted investigation, it was determined that the microbiological quality of the tested water sample fully complies with the norms for drinking water provided by the normative documents of Georgia.
See the results of the examination in the Annex-3.

 

4.1.2 Results of microbiological examination of water in Qvibisi -1 (near railway )
09.10. 2023
Results of microbiological examination of water:
4.2.1 Sample name: Qvibis 1 (Railway)
After treating the initial sample with intestiphage and incubating at room temperature for 24 h
Contact person: Gia Abramia, 599 246287
E-mail address:
Number of samples: 1
Date of receiving the sample: 05.10.2023
Address: Qvibis, railway
Analysis results:
As a result of the conducted investigation, it was determined that the microbiological quality of the tested water sample sharply exceeds the norms for drinking water provided by the normative documents of Georgia.
See the results of the examination in the Annex-4-1.
4.3 Sample name: Qvibis 2 (Between school and village council)
After treating the initial sample with intestiphage and incubating at room temperature for 24 h
Contact person: Gia Abramia, 599 246287
E-mail address:
Number of samples: 1
Date of receiving the sample: 05.10.2023
Address: (Between school and village council)
Analysis results:
As a result of the conducted investigation, it was determined that the microbiological quality of the tested water sample sharply exceeds the norms for drinking water provided by the normative documents of Georgia.
As a result of the conducted investigation, it was determined that the microbiological quality of the tested water sample sharply exceeds the norms for drinking water provided by the normative documents of Georgia.
See the results of the examination in the Annex-4-2.

4.1.3
As a result of the conducted investigation, it was determined that the microbiological quality of the tested water sample fully complies with the norms for drinking water provided by the normative documents of Georgia.
Results of microbiological examination of water:
Sample name: Zenavi
After treating the initial sample with intestiphage and incubating at room temperature for 24 h
Contact person: Gia Abramia
E-mail address:
Number of samples: 1
Date of receiving the sample: 05.10.2023
See the results of the examination in the Annex-4-3.
4.2
21.10. 2023
Microbiological examination results:
Sample name:
Bacterial isolates from water samples collected from boreholes in Borjomi valley (provided by Gia Abramia)
Number of samples: 8 bacterial isolates
Research start date: 16.10.2023
Analysis results:
The study was conducted during the preliminary analysis of water samples (see results for water samples from 5 wells, issued on 9-10.10.2023) on 8 bacterial isolates selected and stored, 4 of them were initial isolates, and 4 isolates obtained after phage treatment. Additional research conducted included culturing bacteria in general and selective/differentiation areas, conducting separate tests and final identification using API systems, as well as studying their susceptibility to commercial bacteriophages (6 phages). As a result of the conducted research, it was determined that the identification of the tested bacterial isolates mostly confirmed the results of the preliminary analysis. Four (4) isolates from cups/filters containing cultured coliforms belonged to E. coli. Of the remaining 4 isolates, 2 (starter culture from Enteroecoma food) were identified as Enterococcus faecium, and 2 isolates, after treatment with the harvested phage, belonged to the Agrobacterium and Rhizobacterum genera. The phage spot test revealed phage susceptibility (weak to moderate) only for E. coli and Enterococcus isolates, while Agrobacterium and Rhizobacterum isolates were negative (as expected). This is also consistent with the results of trials of phage treatment of well water samples, where a weak positive effect of phage activity was obtained. This is explained, on the one hand, by the large bacterial contamination of the samples, and also by the weak-medium sensitivity of the separated fecal bacterial isolates (only a very small part of the whole isolates were tested) to phages. On the other hand, the introduction of food components (which are part of phage preparations) along with phages has given an impetus to the proliferation of non-specific bacteria (eg Agrobacterium and Rhizobacterum), which are naturally not sensitive to this phage. See the results of the examination in the attached table #1. To obtain more pronounced results of phage treatment, further extensive and detailed research is needed to determine the leading bacteria polluting well water, against which it will be possible to prepare active phage preparations (in the synthetic field) and further use.
Doctor microbiologist: B.M.D. M. Tediashvili

 

 

21.10. 2023
  Microbiological examination results:
Sample name: Bacterial isolates from water samples taken from wells in Borjomi valley (provided by Gia Abramia)

Number of samples: 8 bacterial isolates
Research start date: 16.10.2023

Resuts of Analyses:
The study was conducted during the preliminary analysis of water samples (see results for water samples from 5 wells, issued on 9-10.10.2023) on 8 bacterial isolates selected and stored, 4 of them were initial isolates, and 4 isolates obtained after phage treatment. Additional research conducted included culturing bacteria in general and selective/differentiation areas, conducting separate tests and final identification using API systems, as well as studying their susceptibility to commercial bacteriophages (6 phages).
As a result of the conducted research, it was determined that the identification of the tested bacterial isolates mostly confirmed the results of the preliminary analysis. Four (4) isolates from cups/filters containing cultured coliforms belonged to E. coli. Of the remaining 4 isolates, 2 (starter culture from Enteroecoma food) were identified as Enterococcus faecium, and 2 isolates, after treatment with the harvested phage, belonged to the Agrobacterium and Rhizobacterum genera.
The phage spot test revealed phage susceptibility (weak to moderate) only for E. coli and Enterococcus isolates, while Agrobacterium and Rhizobacterum isolates were negative (as expected). This is also consistent with the results of trials of phage treatment of well water samples, where a weak positive effect of phage activity was obtained. This explains, on the one hand,
With a high bacterial load of the samples, and also with a weak-moderate susceptibility of the isolated faecal bacterial isolates (only a very small part of the whole isolates were tested) to phages. On the other hand, the introduction of food components (which are part of phage preparations) along with phages has given an impetus to the proliferation of non-specific bacteria (eg Agrobacterium and Rhizobacterum), which are naturally not sensitive to this phage.
See the results of the examination in the attached table #1.
To obtain more pronounced results of phage treatment, further extensive and detailed research is needed to determine the leading bacteria polluting well water, against which it will be possible to prepare active phage preparations (in the synthetic field) and further use.
Doctor microbiologist: B.M.D. M. Tediashvili

 

Exam Minutes# 1- 10/23
                           Results of microbiological study of bacterial isolates

Growth on microbiological areas API Tests Phagosensisivity	Name of Sample
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
	Kvibisi 2(FCC)	Kvibisi 2(FCC)	Kvibisi 2+ phages (FCC)	Kvibisi 2+ phages (FCC)	Zenavi   (ENT)	Zenavi   (ENT)	Zenavi+Phage   (ENT)	Zenavi+Phage   (ENT)
Growth on microbiological areas
Mac
Endo
Sim
TSA
MSA
KOH
OX
Cat
Bile Esculin agar
Gram paint
Identification by API System
Api 20E, 20 NE, STREP	E.coli	E.coli	E.coli	E.coli	Enterococus faecium	Enterococus faecium	Risobacterium radiobacter	Agrobacterium radiobacter
Sensitivity Towards Phages (Biopreparations of Eliava Institute)
F Ses
F Enco
F Fersis
F Pio				40tv
F Staf
F Intesti		ntv	+	+	+	+

Doctor microbiologist:                                                                             B.M.D. M. Tediashvili

 

• Lessons learnt

While the water supply systems in Borjomi and Bakujriani are daily treated and headworks/intakes are more or less protected, practically all rural systems do not chlorinate the water and do not have headworks or reservoirs that are protected (fenced, covered, etc.). Additionally, due to inadequate headworks protection, water turbidity increases during rainy seasons as well as network degradation. Due to droughts, there is a summertime water deficit in the majority of populated areas. The impact is also caused by, longer tourism seasons. Additionally, residential plots are regularly irrigated with drinking water.

In Borjomi Municipality settlements Akhaldaba, Kvibisi, Zanavi people use to apply to alternative drinking water source-well. Unfortunately, some of the wells are not located on proper places and the sanitary-hygienic requirements are not always applied. During our research we identified that from 18 wells only 4 well owners provided, chlorine treatment of their objects, while 14 well owners do not provide treatment.

•  Recommendations for private well owners

 

5.1 General Recommendations

• Always use licensed or certified water well drillers and pump installers when a well is constructed, a pump is installed, or the system is serviced;
• An annual well maintenance check, including a bacterial test, is recommended;
• Any source of drinking water should be checked any time there is a change in taste, odor or appearance, or anytime a water supply system is serviced;
• Keep hazardous chemicals, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides and motor oil away from your well;
• Periodically check the well cover or well cap on top of the casing (well) to ensure it is in good repair;
• Always maintain proper separation between your well and buildings, waste systems, or chemical storage facilities;
• Always keep your well and any nearby structures, waste systems, or chemical storage facilities adequately apart. Your qualified contractor is aware of the regulations;
• Do not combine pesticides, fertilizers, or other chemicals in the same container within the tank or container, the hose.
• Keep your well's top at least one foot above the ground when landscaping. Ground that slopes for appropriate drainage, away from your well.
• Use caution when raking or mowing grass near your well.
• Damage to the enclosure could compromise the safeguarding the health of your well. Avoid piling up snow, leaves, or other debris near your well.

 

5.2 Specific Recommendations

It is advised to employ Intestibacteriophage legally recognized medical preparation for prophylactic reasons during the spread of intestinal illnesses by edding the preparation into the wells.
Finally, it is advised to conduct a thorough scientific investigation that would address all the issues raised in order to determine the quality of drinking (well) water reservoirs in rural settlements, the status and cause of pollution, as well as to draw conclusions about the expediency of using bacteriophage preparations to reduce or prevent pollution (as well as which phage, prepared in what solution, in what quantity would be effective).

To obtain more pronounced results of phage treatment, further extensive and detailed research is needed to determine the leading bacteria polluting well water, against which it will be possible to prepare active phage preparations (in the synthetic field) and further use.