GWI discovers record 3,000 condoms blocking Alberttown sewage
A GUYANA Water Inc. sanitation team, responding to several complaints of sewage overflows in Alberttown, discovered in excess of 3,000 used condoms in an overflowing manhole, which caused a massive blockage at the corner of Sixth and Light Streets. “The sewage was practically gushing,” said Sanitation Supervisor Wayne Langford.
“Immediately we noticed a number of articles including clothes, concrete, and a significant amount of condoms amongst the sewage,” he reported, pointing out that the discovery forced GWI to conduct a lengthy exercise to locate the source of the blockage underground.
“We were fortunate enough to locate the huge blockage below Sixth and Light Streets before sunset,” he related. “It was then that we noticed an enormous amount of condoms which clogged the system and affected the operations of the sensitive devices used to pump the sewage out of the city.”
Mr. Langford revealed that the removal of the blockage required more than two hours of work by the team.
According to him, the debris was so much that the entire team was called out to remove the massive amount of condoms which number more than 3,000.
”Even the residents looking on were stunned to see the amount of condoms found in the blockage,” he declared.
Deploring the situation as totally unacceptable, Langford noted that GWI has been appealing to residents to desist from flushing anything but human waste in their toilets.
He said it is a common occurrence to find large numbers of condoms at city hotels which experience sewage overflows. “However the more than 3,000 condoms found at the Sixth and Light Streets blockage is the largest on record.”
Langford highlighted that the overflows, which resulted from the consistent flushing of condoms affected a pregnant woman in Albert Street and caused her to become ill, like several elderly persons and children, who were also victims of the unhygienic conditions.

MUCH LONGER
But, a GWI release said the occurrence may have been ongoing for much longer as, senior citizen Mrs. Seeta Vanderhyden has been reporting the problem of  sewers backing up and overflowing into her yard, at Lot 142 Sixth Street, Alberttown (between Albert and Light Streets) for several years now.
The release said the woman has reported the problem ad nauseam but the situation persists.
Meanwhile, GWI said it has, consistently, educated residents of Georgetown, through its weekly television broadcast, radio advisories and community outreach programmes, about the damage caused by dumping garbage into the sewage system.
However, recently the number of overflows has exacerbated and according to Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Nigel Niles, GWI will seek legal action against all customers found guilty of dumping garbage into the sewerage system.
“Overflows caused by flushing condoms occur weekly,” he said, warning: “This is a situation we will not tolerate since it calls for basic decency and hygiene.”
Niles said the Water and Sewerage Act 2002 allows for GWI to prosecute any customer abusing the sanitation system and it will take legal action if customers do not heed its warnings.
To report abuse of water usage, customers can telephone number 227-8701, e-mail customercallcentre@gwi.gy or send images to GWI’s Facebook page, available at www.facebook.com/everydropcounts.