THE Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has recently deployed two engineers to Arakaka, in Region One, to address the lack of water supply there, caused by cloud cover over the photovoltaic system in the community.The photovoltaic system, also known as a solar PV power system, is designed to supply

usable solar power, which ensures the functioning of a water system. However, due to a prolonged rainy season in the region, the system, which requires a constant supply of energy from the sun, has not been functioning efficiently.

GWI’s Hinterland Engineer, Cleon French, and Solar Consultant Aubrey Mark, visited the area to install a control box which would allow for an automatic switch from solar to electric energy when a generator is turned on.
The solar power is expected to last from 9:00hrs to 15:00 hrs, while the electricity is estimated to last for 12 hours during the night, to ensure that the pump functions throughout the night.

The country’s lone water provider is currently exploring the possibility of increasing the water storage capacity and drilling a new well for the residents of Arakaka village next year.

Meanwhile, the company intends to send a contactor to the village of Karrau, in Region Seven, to install a PV system, erect a trestle, and place tanks at strategic locations to connect to the pipes that were recently laid by villagers.

In early November, GWI responded to an outbreak of diarrhoea at Karrau and River’s View villages in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) by dispatching a team of officials to distribute a total of 17 Lifesaver filters to both villages, where reports of the outbreak were more prevalent.

GWI had also undertaken to drill a well, and will be installing a pump and distribution network, to ensure access to water for the benefit of the 323 residents in Karrau.

“These projects form part of GWI’s mandate of ensuring equal access to water for citizens on the coast and in riverine areas,” a statement from GWI said on Monday.