— Water Ministry
THE Housing and Water Ministry yesterday said extensive tests have found that dead fish in the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) have not affected the quality of water supplied by the Shelter Belt of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) in Georgetown.
Reports of dead fish in the conservancy triggered an investigation by the ministry and GWI with support from the ministries of Health and Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), among others.
“This involved a range of extensive tests which examined the samples taken from the conservancy, including those from the vicinity of the dead fish, as well as water being distributed by GWI’s Shelter Belt Water Treatment Plant.  Tests were conducted by the water company and the ministries of Health and Agriculture”, the Housing and Water Ministry said.
According to the ministry, GWI’s examination revealed that the water being sourced from the EDWC and supplied to customers of Georgetown by way of the Shelter Belt Water Treatment Plant, contained no poisonous contaminants, man-made pesticides or any such abnormalities.
Checks on samples of the dead fish by the Veterinary Department of the Health Ministry concluded that the specimens died from a bacteriological agent and Health Ministry officials advised GWI to increase the dosage of chlorine contained in water distributed by the Shelter Belt, the ministry reported.
Tests by GWI have revealed no evidence of faecal coliforms or other bacteriological contaminants in the water leaving the treatment plant, it reported.
It added that all tests were conducted within the parameters of the World Health Organization (WHO) and GWI will continue to conduct its routine tests of water supplied to Georgetown customers by way of the Shelter Belt plant in the interest of maintaining absolute safety.
“The collaborative effort between all relevant agencies to resolve concerns regarding the water sourced by the Shelter Belt Plant will continue with the aim of mitigating the risk of pollution to the EDWC, including the Lamaha Canal.  This will ensure the highest quality of water entering the Shelter Belt Treatment Plant, hence aiding GWI to fulfill its aim of supplying safe water to customers of Georgetown.
“GWI has concluded that the water leaving the Shelter Belt Treatment Plant is safe and free of all contaminants”, it said.