Anaklia WWTP, Georgia: Engineering a Cleaner Future for Georgia’s Black Sea

As EIA Project Manager for this $9.27M ADB-funded project, I helped deliver a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant that protects Anaklia’s fragile coastal ecosystem while setting new standards for sustainable water management in Georgia.

Key Project Highlights

🌊 25,600 population equivalents served (current and future needs)
♻️ 4,253 m³/day treatment capacity using advanced biological processes
🌱 Closed-loop sludge management producing safe agricultural fertilizer

Cutting-Edge Treatment Process

🔧 Mechanical Stage:

Coarse screening and grit removal protecting downstream systems
Grease separation safeguarding biological processes

🔬 Biological Stage:

Extended aeration activated sludge with simultaneous nitrification/denitrification
Chemical phosphorus removal meeting strict effluent standards

🔄 Sludge Line Innovation:

Gravity thickeners and centrifuge dewatering reducing volume by 85%
Stabilized sludge repurposed as safe agricultural fertilizer

My Strategic Role

✅ Technical Leadership: Bridged German engineering precision (Ludwig Pfeiffer) with Italian technological innovation (Protecno)
✅ Contract Expertise: Successfully navigated complex ENAA contract requirements
✅ Sustainable Legacy: Implemented operator training programs ensuring long-term plant efficiency

Why This Matters

This plant represents more than infrastructure - it's:

A guardian of the Black Sea's delicate ecosystem
A model for circular economy practices in wastewater management
A testament to international collaboration (Germany-Italy-Georgia)

Project Specifications

📍 Location: Anaklia, Georgia (Black Sea coast)
📅 Duration: Jan 2017 – Feb 2018 (1 year)
💰 Value: $9,272,589.86
📊 Capacity: 4,253 m³/day (PE 25,600)
🌐 Financing: Asian Development Bank (ADB Loan 3078-GEO)
📜 Contract: ENAA
🔧 Technology:

Extended aeration activated sludge
Simultaneous nitrification/denitrification
Sludge repurposing as fertilizer
🌱 Sustainability: Closed-loop sludge management

This project showcases how advanced engineering can create sustainable solutions that benefit both communities and the environment.

Anaklia's dilemma: A rising tourist paradise was flushing its future straight into the Black Sea. Our team engineered a biological 'kidney' that now cleans 4,253 m³ daily, where Italian aeration tech dances with German precision controls. The magic moment? When lab tests showed our effluent was cleaner than the waves lapping Georgia's coast. Today, beachside hotels don't just advertise sea views, they boast about the plant protecting them.