-facility to benefit 30,000 households in its environs
DOZENS OF enthusiastic Sophia residents turned out last evening to celebrate the commissioning of the new Sophia Water Treatment Plant, which is projected to benefit some 30,000 persons through the provision of improved water quality and service.
The Government of Guyana and the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB) funded this plant at a cost of in excess of G$300M and it forms part of the ‘Georgetown Water Supply and Sewerage Programme 2’.
According to Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, the facility will now serve the population in and around Sophia ‘A’ and ‘B’ fields, Bel Air, and Prashad Nagar.
“I am pleased to say that nearly $3.6B has been invested to improve water services in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) over the past five years, and today an additional 30,000 persons are now benefiting from improved water, due to the construction of this facility,” he stated.
He said the plant will serve to reduce the iron content of the water, as this country is known to have a high percentage of this mineral lying in the ground.
In light of the foregoing achievement, he said Guyanese should feel proud of the fact that the water that is produced by our aquifers still meets the World Health Organization’s standards.
He noted that since the PPPC was returned to office in 2006, access to treated water has increased from some 25 per cent of the population to 45 per cent today, with the government’s strategic goal being to take that figure to 75 per cent by 2015. This improved access to treated water also takes into account the Hinterland areas as well.
Continuing, Minister Ali explained that because the Cummings Lodge Well has not yet been activated, residents in some sections of Sophia would not have “a good flow” just yet, but that this minor impediment will be rectified within the next two weeks.
He took this opportunity to highlight that in excess of $2.6B has been invested in the water sector in Georgetown alone and that nearly $1B has been invested on the East Coast and East Bank.
This expenditure, he said, translates into an investment, on behalf of the Government of Guyana, of $10,000 for every resident, and $50,000 for every household just to ensure that all have equal access to clean potable water, which is a precious commodity.
As he assured those gathered for the commissioning: “This government believes in equal access to resources and opportunity, and we remain committed to improving your living conditions and your livelihoods.”
He also sought to remind his audience that they needed to play their part in ensuring that the water sector remains viable, as it is part of GWI’s plan to ensure that expenses are covered to sustain the utility company.
Meanwhile, Chief of Operations, IDB Country Office, Jose Manuel Ruiz noted that the commissioning of the Plant is as a result of the fruitful relationship between the Government and the IDB.
He said that besides the funding of this initiative, the IDB has also collaborated on the realization of other projects with IDB resources, among them the Georgetown Water Supply and Sewerage Programme 2.
Said he: “Under component one, two iron removal plants were constructed at Sophia and at Central Ruimveldt, and additional inputs include the rehabilitation works at GWI Shelterbelt.”
As to the benefits of this programme, Ruiz said following its completion in 2010, an independent evaluation has recognized the achievement on important improvements in infrastructure and operating efficiencies.
In closing, he emphasized that the partnership between the Bank and the Government of Guyana has been “a vibrant one” over the years, and expressed the hope that the collaboration will continue well into the future.