-$56M Diamond/Grove well to be completed by September 10

Site where new Diamond/Grove well is being established.

Construction and development of the $56M Diamond/Grove well at Sixth Street, Diamond, East Bank Demerara, will be completed shortly and this would be complemented by two others that are slated for completion before year end.

Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali and officials from his Ministry Friday visited the construction site to examine the progress of the well where, after inspection, he expressed satisfaction at the pace of the project.

He said despite some delays with the contractor related to shipping of materials, tremendous work has been done over the past few days.

“I am pretty much satisfied with the work performance they have done over the last eight days; they have been working 24 hours per day, which is something commendable…,” he said.

Works are expected to be completed by September 10. However, the Minister noted, that the contractor requested an extension and this is currently being assessed by his Ministry.

The Housing and Water Minister further outlined that the construction of the Diamond well is part of the Guyana Water Incorporated’s (GWI) consolidation plan, and on completion, contractors will be mobilised immediately for the construction of the well at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.

“We are hoping that by the end of November, works at Lusignan would be completed after which we will move to Parfait/Harmonie…these three wells will serve in excess of 24,000 people…this is part of our extension of infrastructure consolidation plan…the Lusignan, Diamond and Parfaite/Harmonie wells are to be completed before year end,” Minister Ali said.

The construction of the wells at Lusignan and Diamond/Grove will cost approximately $51M and $56M respectively, and will benefit 2000 people from Lusignan, while approximately 8000 will benefit from Grove/Diamond.

The projects are being undertaken by a Trinidadian based contractor, Water and Oil Wells Services, and are supervised by CEMCO.

It is expected that on completion of the projects, residents of the Diamond/Grove and Lusignan areas will enjoy adequate water pressure. The project will also incorporate submersible pumps with electrical control panels, a pump house and fencing.

In addition, the Minister said other wells are being constructed across the country to improve water supply. These will be at Onderneeming, Region Two; Belle Vue, Region Three; and De Hoop, Region Five.

In one week’s time, the Housing and Water Ministry is hoping to advertise for a new bore hole at Cornelia Idea, Region Three. Three other wells for the Cummings Lodge, Manchester and Enmore areas are being designed by consultants and will come on stream shortly.

“We are looking to have all of these in place to deliver potable water by the first quarter of next year,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, CEMCO Site Engineer Victor Lall, who provided an update of the project, said approximately 690 feet of drilling has been completed.

Formation samples have been taken while upper casings and pipes have been installed. Logging of holes and placing of well screens are to be completed.

As a result of the continuous expansion of housing schemes and the increase in demand for water supply over the years, government continues to invest millions to ensure that more people continue to receive access to potable water supply. (GINA)