…as GWI, Mexican firm sign US$3.5M pact

THE rehabilitation and expansion of the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) water treatment facility at Shelter-belt has been kick-started with the signing of a US$3.5M contract on Friday between GWI and a Mexican company.

The contract was signed by GWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Richard Van West-Charles, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, David Dewar and the contracted Mexican company, Hi-Pro Ecologicos.

The project is being funded through a grant from the European Union (EU) and a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and it set to be completed by October 2019.
It will be used to overhaul of the chemical mixing and dosing system for alum, lime and chlorine; the rehabilitation of the filtration system; the installation of water quality monitoring systems and more.

Van West-Charles says the undertaking marks an important milestone in the improvement of water supply to city which is continuously expanding. He stated that the quality of water at Shelter-belt has been gradually slipping and, as such, rehabilitations are necessary and will continue until the GWI can facilitate a complete overhaul.

“This project is certainly will support and bolster the strategies which we have embarked upon which are outlined clearly in our strategic plan and therefore we can definitely witness the completion of the project with significant impact on the water here in the capital city of Georgetown,” he said.

Present at the ceremony was Chairman of the Board, Patricia Chase Green who stated that it is time to “take the bull by the horns” for the improvement of water supply not only in Georgetown but countrywide. “This is just a part of the improvements that we have in store for all of our water areas and all our regions. It’s not only going to be done in Georgetown but all of our regions…we’re trying to ensure that there is the same water for every single citizen in Guyana,” she said.

Chase-Green then requested the cooperation of citizens to ensure the smooth completion of the projects.
Making remarks too was Vice Chair of the Board; David Dewar who congratulated the management of GWI for considering Shelter-belt as a priority to move forward in the advancement of water quality and supply.

Speaking briefly, Representative of Hi-Pro Ecologicos, Luis Fabela thanked the GWI for the opportunity to meet the challenge of bringing better water quality to Guyanese. The company has racked up over 20 years of experience in water treatment and has designed and built over 70 plants to treat wastewater around the world.

Addressing the media, Fabela said: “We will put all our expertise and our knowledge in meeting this task and can rely on us to [do] the work on time and with quality.”
The procurement process for the project will be based on both the national procurement system and the international procurement system of the IDB.

However, this project does not include the renovation of the city’s water distribution networks which the GWI has described as “aging” and for which they will need to source other finances to address.

US$60M is the total estimate given by the CEO for such a plan which he says the fixed charges within the proposed raise of rates and tariffs being reviewed by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will address.

“It’s going to be directed significantly not only at the maintenance and upgrading of the distribution networks of Georgetown but the fixed charge, in essence, will seek to address the distribution network across the country,” he explained. Through other collaborations with the EU and IDB, three water treatment plants will be constructed in Uitvlugt (Region Three); Diamond (Region Four) and Sheet Anchor (Region Six).

Works towards the rehabilitation and expansion of the Shelter-belt facility have already begun as contractors and consultants visited the site on Thursday where the measurement process has commenced.