TWO contracts for civil works to improve water service provided to Linden customers of the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) were on Friday signed between the GWI, represented by its CEO, Nigel Niles, and Suresh Jagmohan, proprietor of S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services, the contractor.

The contracts were signed in the boardroom of the Linden Enterprise Network Inc. on Republic Avenue, Linden in the presence of key stakeholders, including Vice Chairman of Region 10, Byron Lewis.
The first contract, valued in excess of Gy$56M, is for rehabilitation of mains and upgrade of the distribution network in Linden’s West Bank — Wismar. The second contract, valued in excess of Gy$319M, is for similar works on Linden’s East Bank – Mackenzie.
Improvement works covered in the contracts form part of the Linden Water Supply and Rehabilitation Programme (LWSRP), which is funded by the Government of Guyana through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) at a cost in excess of US$12M.
According to Executive Director of GWI’s Capital Investment and Planning, Ramchand Jailal, the programme seeks to significantly enhance the quality of life experienced by GWI customers in Linden through a massive rehabilitation of the water supply system.
“Over the next five years, we expect to undertake a series of large-scale civil works which will include the construction of two (2) new water treatment plants at Amelia’s Ward and Wisroc, as well as booster stations, reservoirs, and the installation of transmission mains; as well as the rehabilitation of the distribution system, including replacing leaking pipelines and service connections,” Jailal disclosed.
Jailal explained that with the combination of the new treatment facilities and the reduction of leaks through an upgrade of the distribution system, Linden customers will experience improved water quality as well as higher levels of service.
Under the programme, GWI is also engaging a consultant to develop a strategy to reduce water loss and non- revenue water.
“We are aware that the current system is not adequate due its age and the growth of the town over the years,” Jailal stated. “But when the new plants are fully operational, customers will enjoy a higher standard of treated water, as they are designed to deliver water quality that fulfills World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.”
He further said that the programme will encompass a large public education and community outreach component. “The success of the LWSRP also depends on the willingness of GWI Linden customers to partner with us on water conservation, protecting freshwater resources, and maintaining safe household water supply,” Jailal said.
“For customers to enjoy higher levels of service, they must avoid wastage. We will be engaging all the treated water schemes in a conservation campaign via mass media and community meetings.”
With regard to protecting sources of freshwater, Jailal explained that the new Wisroc Water Treatment Plant will utilize freshwater from the Dakoura Creek; hence customers of Linden must protect the creek and its watershed by avoiding activities that can pollute the creek, such as mining and forestry activities, and dumping garbage in or around the creek.
He further emphasized that while the new facilities will provide an improved level of safe, potable water, water can still become contaminated if customers are reluctant to adopt safe habits, such as storing water in covered containers and consistently cleaning black tanks.
“Linden customers can anticipate a robust public education thrust, including a 60-minute television documentary on the programme,” Jailal stated. “We urge them to partner with us as we strive to significantly enhance their quality of life through the improvement of the service we deliver.”
Customers with questions about the LWSRP can e-mail pro@gwi.gy; visit www.gwiguyana.com, or post questions via social media at www.facebook.com/everydropcountsgy.