Dear Editor
FOR as long as I have known myself living in Victoria, East Coast Demerara, I have had to fetch water for very long distances, whether through riding, cart-pulling or sometimes walking. As a child I remembered gathering at a central spot in the village where many other residents would be for the purpose of fetching water by buckets and bottles, at about a quarter mile away from my home.
As I grew, more people had pipes in their yards, but these pipes were mere ornaments, since many would just drip and residents would have to use bowls and little drinks bottle to fill their buckets, this was a very lengthy process. The trench water was then used for other activities other than drinking, atrociously, though persons were billed an enormous amount of money for water they were not receiving. Water meters were also put in place on pipes that had no water coming through the taps and barrels were placed in many yards with the promise that the water pressure would increase; this never happened in reality and many smartly took the barrels out of the ground and set it to catch rain water. For years, this was the plight of the average Victorian with a few exceptions of those who lived at the road front.
This year has seen a major difference in the services of G.W.I, especially in the last couple of months. There are still many more areas for improvement, but it’s important to make considerable mention of some of the areas of improvement. Victorians living at the back are grateful for the pressure of water they are now receiving; we can now afford to have showers in our one-flat buildings; those with high houses still struggle to have water upstairs, except for late at nights when most pipes are shut off and no longer do we have to fetch water to flush toilets and wash wares, and water has finally come to even the last part of east sideline in Victoria. Almost everyone has a flowing pipe in their yards, and leak inspectors are checking constantly to make sure this new and improved water experience for Victorians are maintained.
More water meters need to be attached to ensure that this service is financed, so that it can be sustained. Residents without water meters who are receiving water need to also have the ability to regulate their water and better manage their usage. Water during the course of the night– water cuts off at 10 in Victoria — I have lived other places where water flows all night, this is not a strange asking and an area for improvement.
The quality of water is another point that G.W.I needs to pay attention to and I am sure not only Victorians have this problem. Though I understand how much goes into making the water even to the stage it is at, it’s also factual that this issue needs to be constantly before the eyes of the authority to provide Guyanese with water that is not full of iron and rust. Water quality in Victoria and even in Guyana has come a long way and I am sure that with the improvements that we have seen thus far, Victorians would be willing to continue to work with G.W.I in whatever way possible as they provide a service that is aimed at excellence.

Regards
Samuel Gillis