GUYANA Water Incorporated (GWI) said it has discovered a number of illegal water service connections at Sarah Johanna, East Bank Demerara, some of which were submerged in a trench containing sewage from a leaking latrine. Upon hearing of the incident, Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali said, “GWI has a no-tolerance policy for persons who refuse to regularise its service; illegal connections endanger the health of our customers and we will seek legal penalties for those who continue to break the law.”
Minister Ali further stated that the cost for a new service connection is $1,000.
“We can provide a new service connection at such a low charge because the cost to supply customers with water is highly subsidised by the Government. Persons seeking new connections should take advantage of this and follow the correct procedure for a new service connection. There is no excuse for engaging in these illegal activities and endangering the health of other customers.”
According to GWI’s Director of Operations, Joseph Codette, “Last week we were alerted by some concerned members of the Sarah Johanna Village of over 10 illegal connections at several homes; what is alarming is that some of the connections are submerged in a trench in which raw sewage is leaking from a nearby latrine.”
Codette further explained that the situation could have disastrous results for the health of all the residents of the community.
“If the raw sewage enters the lines, it would lead to contamination of the entire distribution system that serves the community. We are appealing to all residents with illegal connections to desist from this practice immediately.”
The Sarah Johanna residents with illegal connections were issued warnings and the connections were removed.
However, GWI continues to appeal to all residents engaging in this illegal practice to visit the nearest GWI location to have their service regularised.  “Illegal connections are dangerous and a serious threat to the health of our customers,” stated the Operations Director.
“GWI will seek to prosecute any member of the public who installs illegal water service connections, in accordance with the Water and Sewage Act 2002.”

Persons seeking to regularise their service can visit any GWI location, or contact GWI’s Customer Service Call Centre on 227-8701, or via the email address ‘customercallcentre@gwi.gy’