MINISTER of Communities Ronald Bulkan, along with Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Managing-Director, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles and a team on Friday visited the construction site of a new well at the Port Mourant Water Treatment Plant, Portuguese Quarter.
The new well being constructed to the tune of the $60M is expected to be completed by the end of October and will bring 24 hours supply of treated water for residents from Albion to Tain, in East Berbice-Corentyne.
Speaking with media operatives after the tour, Mr Bulkan said construction of the well represents an ongoing investment by the government to increase and improve pure water supply to more people across the country.
“Water is one of the most basic necessities for living and the government is committed to ensuring that citizens and consumers receive water on a continuous basis.”
The minister was on a tour with GWI across the region and visited the facility at Sheet Anchor.
The managing -director in an invited comment noted that the well is just one of several projects being undertaken by GWI to improve potable water supply to residents all across Guyana.
“We are getting one for Farm; we have identified Fyrish for replacement wells. In addition to that, we have numerous other projects in the hinterland areas right now. In Region One, Port Kaituma, where there was the issue with mercury, they are currently drilling another well and in the next three weeks that area will have about three wells where they are moving from two hours to six hours and we are preparing to drill a well in Mabaruma,” he outlined.
Meanwhile, Richard Hoyte, Programme Coordinator, GWI, said drilling started on the well on April 24, 2018 and reached the total depth in June, which was 401 feet; but due to the rainy season at that time, the soil was very saturated and the well suffered a collapse. A decision was then taken move from the location to 50 feet away.
“We are now moving towards reaming this hole, opening it more to set our well creases in another week or so. The setting of the well screens and casings should be completed in two days, after which we will move towards the development of the drilling fluid, making sure we get a good productivity of the well. That entire process should take another three weeks; we are looking at the end of October,” Hoyte said.
Currently, residents receive 12 hours of water from 05:00hrs to 12:00hrs and 16:00hrs to 21:00hrs, since the current well cannot function to full capacity. However, according to Randolph Leitch, Regional Manager GWI (Ag),the well when completed will enhance the services of the water treatment plant and provide 24 hours service for the approximately 9000 customers from Albion to Tain.
The new well is being dug by Water and Oil from Trinidad with eight Guyanese working along with the team daily. Upon completion, the team is expected to move to Westminster and Pouderoyen,West Bank Demerara.
