CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Water Inc., Mr. Yuri Chandisingh yesterday announced that, as a result of the serious effects of the El Nino weather condition, the utility has resorted to rationing supplies.
He said the water reservoir is at a critical level and appealed to consumers to conserve on the use while the current dry season continues to affect the volume in the Lamaha Canal, a significant source of  supply within the capital, Georgetown.
Chandisingh told a press conference that, due to the lack of rainfall and the inability of the Lamaha Canal to replenish itself and meet present demands, the Shelter Belt Water Treatment Plant is currently delivering five mega liters less than usual, which is a significant decrease and that would affect the supply to customers in the city.
He said: “The level of the canal remains critical, despite the assistance we have received from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority and East Demerara Water Conservancy and this is, indeed, a crisis and we are urging our customers to respond accordingly.”
Chandisingh said, in spite of mass messages through them and the partnership with the media in highlighting the issue, GWI has observed a complete lack of regard for the situation.
“One becomes angry when customers are seen using water to clean their concrete yards, which seems to be a trend throughout Guyana,” he said, noting that “this practice is particularly wasteful in the treated water areas, where the purified supply by GWI should be used for domestic purposes only.”
Chandisingh said: “We have also urged our customers to desist from washing vehicles at this time. There are alternatives to using GWI’s supply for non-domestic purposes.”
He appealed to GWI customers to be responsible and heed the warning that continued wastage by them will result in severe consequences for water supply across Guyana.
Chandisingh said, in light of the low level of the Lamaha Canal due to the El Nino crisis, GWI has been forced to adjust its supply schedule for customers in Central Georgetown, shown in the table below.

Chandisingh also warned that the prevailing prolonged dry weather could have dire consequences for aquifers.

No rainfall
“Because of the dry weather, there is a significant increase in the amount of water utilised by our customers and this is further compounded by the fact that no rainfall means that the aquifers cannot replenish their supply at the normal rate. This means that our aquifers are currently under tremendous strain with increased demand and no rainfall to replenish their supplies,” he explained.
Chandisingh emphasised that, in view of this, all GWI customers must immediately reduce the amount of water they utilise.
“We are certain that the aquifers are being depleted due to the absence of adequate rainfall and this is a worrying factor and our customers must be cognisant of these facts and guard against wastage and the unnecessary use of water,” he reiterated.
Chandisingh cautioned that the effect of the dry season on GWI wells, coupled with the wanton wastage by customers will yield severe consequences for the nation’s water supply.
“The sustainability of the nation’s water supply rests with our customers. They must be prudent in their use of water so that future generations can have an adequate supply,” he added.
GWI Acting Director of Operations, Mr. Joseph Coddette, alluding to the challenges faced, said, in the city where the water level is very low and for the country areas, the utility is pumping from the aquifers for distribution.
He said they had to reduce pressure to many areas, like Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, where most people have reservoirs and, during peak hours, water is being rationed to take off the pressure from GWI’s aquifers in order to protect them.
GWI Georgetown Divisional Manager, Mr. Curtis Niles who spoke on the interventions and revised supply schedules.