…all damaged roads will be fixed in two weeks’ time — GWI

THE Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) has said that after 18 months of decommissioning works done on the old sewer mains, the new system is fully operational, and all roads which were damaged during the exercise will be fixed in two weeks’ time.Orin Browne, Manager of the Georgetown Sanitation Improvement Programme (GSIP), told this publication that the city’s new system, spanning from Albuoystown to Seawall Road and from Vlissengen Road to Wellington Street, is working very well.
He added that activation of the new sewerage system, recently rehabilitated by local contractors S. Jagmohan and Nabi Consortium under the Guyana Government/Inter-American Development Bank US$10M loan, was performed within the stipulated time, and the works are satisfactory.
Browne said that activation of the rehabilitated force and delivery mains as well as refurbishment of 24 sewer pump stations were also done in an effort to activate the new sewer system.
He pointed out that damage done to Camp Street, which occurred during the works, will be repaired, and the area will be back to its original state in two weeks’ time.
GWI was the executing agency for the Georgetown Sanitation Improvement Programme (GSIP). An agreement was signed between the Government of Guyana and the IDB for the sum of US$10M for improvement of the Georgetown Sewerage System’s operational performance. This contract was signed on December 8, 2010, and was based on the agreement that the GoG and the IDB had crafted in execution of the programme.
Components of the programme included the complete replacement of the 5.5 KM Sewerage Ring Main in Georgetown; replacement of all delivery mains; purchase and installation of additional pumps for 24 pumping stations, to ensure adequate pressure; and operational reliability and improvement of electrical connections. It also included an assessment and emergency rehabilitation of street sewers in selected areas, and the purchase of maintenance and operating equipment.
Further, it included the strengthening of GWI’s wastewater management and energy efficiency, which involves management implementation strategy and staff training programmes on wastewater operation, maintenance practices and energy use.
The contract also included public awareness campaigns that targeted schools and business owners. This component was significant in light of the continued abuse of the system by customers, who continue to dump solid waste, thereby affecting the efficiency of the system and results in overflows.
It was imperative that these structural improvements provided by the programme be complemented by the proper use of the system by customers, in order to achieve maximum efficiency, GWI concluded.

(By Michel Outridge)