THE Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) has embarked on a programme of upgrading and installing water meters on service connections in West Demerara.
According to GWI the programme will target customers served by the Pouderoyen and Fellowship Water Treatment Plants, which include villages from Versailles on the West Bank to Hague on the West Coast.
GWI’s Customer Service Manager, Jeanette Thomas said “prior to the upgrading and installation of water meters, GWI’s Customer Field Representatives will be visiting residences and businesses to verify account information in order to update or correct accounts on the GWI database. We are appealing to all customers to cooperate with the GWI staff conducting the survey and those conducting the upgrades since the programme will significantly improve the service provided by GWI.”
The Customer Service Manager further explained that “should our representatives arrive at your premises and no one is available to provide the information requested, a letter will be left at the customer’s residence or business requesting that the customer contact our office to indicate a convenient day and time. Should we visit your residence or business and not be able to make contact with the owner or tenant your water service can be interrupted.”
The survey began on August 27 in the villages closest to the Pouderoyen Water Treatment Plant which include Phoenix Park, Samaroo Dam, Bella Dam, Coglan Dam, Middle Street, Swan Street, Malgre Tout, Versailles, Plantain Walk and Vreed-en-Hoop. GWI teams will visit the villages on the West Coast at the end of September and during the month of October.
Thomas added that GWI is working on new methods of installing water service meters. “Previously we installed water meters beyond the fence of the customer’s home. The challenge is that some premises are secured all day with no one available to allow us access to the meter; this results in estimated bills. During this exercise we will install the meters on the outside of the fence where possible; our meter readers will now have access to the meter and our customers can be billed on what they actually consume.”  The GWI Customer Service Manager further indicated that “where it is not possible to install water meters on the outside of the fence, GWI will install the meters in an elevated position within the fence so that it is visible to meter readers.”
GWI is appealing to all domestic and commercial customers to support its country-wide “Metering Programme” as the company continues to aim towards metering 100 percent of its customers.
Customers with questions about GWI’s Metering Programme can contact GWI’s Customer Services Call Centre on 227-8701, e-mail customercallcentre@gwi.gy, visit www.gwiguyana.com or post via social media at www.facebook.com/everydropcountsgy