Angoy’s Avenue getting better water service, regularisation
CONTRACTS valued $36.5M, for the installation of six kilometres of transmission mains to improve water supply in New Amsterdam, Berbice, were signed last Friday. The signing took place during a visit to Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) by Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali.
On that occasion, Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) Divisional Manager, Mr. Jawaharlall Ramjug disclosed that the New Amsterdam Water Treatment Plant is, currently, functioning at full capacity to provide service to some 47,000 households through the production of 49,000 barrels daily.
He explained that the plant, located in Stanleytown, Greater New Amsterdam, supplies water to critical facilities in the township, including New Amsterdam Hospital, the fire station, medical clinics and residences.
“When this plant was commissioned in 1992, it catered for 30,000 customers but we have since surpassed that figure and now there are even more areas which depend on us heavily,” Ramjug said.
He said the factory now supplies 420 cubic metres of water, as opposed to the previous amount of 396 cubic metres, which is proof of the enhanced delivery of service.
“We are producing 2.2 million gallons per day, which is over 49,000 barrels of water daily and, considering our losses in non-revenue collection for water, we are, at the moment, supplying at our maximum,” Ramjug stated.
He said Angoy’s Avenue, where the new project is to begin, is one of the areas that receives water from the New Amsterdam plant.
Ramjug said: “The Angoy’s Avenue project involves the installation of an eight-inch ring main/transmission main around the scheme, which we will then tie into our distribution network to serve the customers.”
He said that is necessary because, previously, two-inch lines were installed and the provision was inadequate for the residents.
Explaining the benefit of the planned upgrades, Ramjug said: “We are going to lay three of the streets with four-inch lines which will increase the supply of water to the area. Following this transmission and service upgrade, we will have to do service connection repairs to the individual houses in order to maintain flow in the system.”
He also revealed that the improvement works in Angoy’s Avenue were delayed, for some time, due to legal action taken by the Co-op Society in the community, which barred the Government from proceeding.
Ramjug said, despite the setback, the community was able to access the planned development, which resulted in the signing ceremony.
“It would be wise to note that, in less than a year, we were able, through community outreaches, to get the members to help us lay the pipelines and repair the connections that are expected to be completed within the next two months,” he offered.
The Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Housing and Water have devised a plan for the area, which also includes road rehabilitation and regularization, which would lead to additional benefits to the almost 3,000 residents.
“It would be unwise for the residents not to embrace the improvements in the community,” Ramjug declared.