-over 30,000 people to benefit
The construction of the new water treatment plant located close to the existing pump station at Region Three is about 75 percent complete.
This is according to Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Divisional Manager, Aubrey Roberts, during an interview with media personnel at the construction site recently.
He highlighted that the storage tank for the facility is almost completed.
“There were few major hiccups with the installation of filters which resulted in delays, but the works are now progressing favourably,” Roberts noted.
He pointed out that major works on the mechanical and technical aspects of the facility have not started as yet, but GWI is pushing to have the project completed by April monthend.
Roberts is urging persons to conserve water since it would be more precious and expensive when it is being treated.
The construction of the treatment plant started in 2009 and is part of the GWI’s capital investment programme for the region. It is being constructed at a cost of US$3M and is expected to serve residents from De Kinderen to St. Lawrence.  Over 30,000 customers will benefit from this project.
Upon completion, it would have the capacity to produce up to 5,000 mega litres of purified water per day.
The project is being executed by Universal Earth Movers (UEM) Incorporated, a company from Trinidad and Tobago, and is being built close to the existing pump station at Vergenoegen.
This treatment facility, along with others being constructed in Regions Two and Five, is being built under the Water Sector Consolidation Project (WASCP) funded by a grant from the World Bank at a cost of US$11.3M, with US$1.1M complementary funding from the Government of Guyana.
This year, approximately $2.7M was allocated to the water sector to facilitate the completion of the treatment plants in Lima, Region Two, Vergenoegen, Region Three, and Cotton Tree, Region Five, as well as the Central Ruimveldt and Sophia iron removal water treatment plants in Georgetown to benefit over 128,000 people.
It is expected that phase two of the Corriverton water treatment plant will be completed at a total cost of $1.6B, benefiting over 12,000 residents from No. 74 Village to Moleson Creek. The Corriverton facility  which will realise the expanded use of the slow sand filtration system and will result in lower energy consumption and lower maintenance costs.
In addition, service connection upgrades and metering will be done in Bartica, Leguan, Patentia, Soesdyke, Herstelling, Nabaclis, Craig, Prospect and Covent Garden.  Distribution networks at Half Mile and One Mile and transmission mains from Mackenzie to Richmond Hill will be also rehabilitated. (GINA)