OVER 1,000 residents in Sand Creek, as well as residents of Aranaputa and Massara, all in Region 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) have recently been granted first time or better access to potable water, through the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).

The efforts are a part of GWI’s intention to increase the number of Guyanese gaining potable water access in the hinterland and to ensure all communities have access to potable water by 2025.

In Sand Creek, some 1020 residents are boasting of first time and improved access to potable water as a result of GWI’s completion of a new well in the community, in collaboration with the Pan -American Health Organisation (PAHO).

Those to benefit include the community’s Nursery, Primary and Secondary schools; School dormitory; Health Center and households.

A release from the water company stated that a photovoltaic pumping system, equipped with 18 solar panels, was installed to power the new water supply system.

Additionally, 1 KM of distribution pipes was installed in a section of the community, affording the residents access to water within close proximity to their homes.

“Not only has this eliminated the burden of fetching water which was faced by the students of the dormitory and other residents, but access to potable water has now significantly reduced the number of cases of water borne diseases,” the release said.
Residents like Elizabeth Charlie and Claudia Bernard expressed their appreciation for the potable water.

They stated that, in the past, their water challenges were made even more difficult during the dry season which would see them having to fetch water over long distances.
The community’s Toshao, Maxie Pugsley, and Headmistress of the Sand Creek Nursery School, Olivia Gomes, also thanked GWI for responding to the water needs of the community.

According to Gomes, children at the school previously faced challenges when it came to washing their hands at the sinks after using the washroom.

Infrastructural works are also ongoing in Sand Creek for the installation of additional distribution pipes and the construction of a metal trestle on which six water tanks will be placed. These works are expected to be completed within two weeks.

This will afford an additional 240 residents in the eastern section of the community access to potable water from the newly drilled well.

GWI’s Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles, during a meeting with residents, informed them, that service men will be trained to maintain the system even as he urged the villagers to care the new water supply system.
He pleaded with the residents not to mix the water provided by GWI with the rainwater which may be contaminated.

Dr. Van West-Charles also explained to the residents that there are a few houses which are a far distance away and will be catered for in the company’s 2020 budget, so that the entire village will have access to potable water.

The Managing Director expressed gratitude to GWI’s workers for their commitment and hard work and thanked PAHO for its assistance and the Toshao and villagers for their cooperation.

GWI also launched a song and poem competition for the community, giving its members the opportunity to convey their feelings about the new water supply system as well as win prizes.

The winning entries will be performed at the commissioning ceremony for the project.
Meanwhile, in Aranaputa, GWI drilled a new well and installed a new Photovoltaic system to provide first time access to potable water for a large section of the community.
The fencing was done by the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) while GWI’s installation of the distribution network was delayed due to weather conditions but will re-commence when the weather improves.

The release stated that Under the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) programme, the network in the remaining section of the community will be completed.

GWI is also working to rehabilitate a pre-existing well and increase the storage capacity. The water is stored in water tanks on a trestle then provided to the residents via a standpipe.

Additionally, remedial works were done by GWI at the Aranaputa Nursery school, which, together with the Primary school, is provided with water from a pre-existing well.
The water from the well is stored in water tanks and fed to the school.

GWI will be installing distribution pipes to afford the kitchen area direct access to the water supply.
“The well is also the source of water for the Health Centre, which also has tanks and a stand pipe. However, due to lack of proper plumbing, the Community Health Worker often has to fetch water for the flushing of the toilet and caring for patients. There is one sink in the Malaria Section of the Health Centre that has running water. GWI will be working to conduct remedial plumbing works to afford the Health Center adequate access to potable water,” the release indicated.

GWI will work to ensure that all of the wells in the community are interconnected and additional water tanks placed, thereby providing 24 hours water access to the entire community.

These works will be completed no later than September, 2019.
In Massara, remedial works were conducted on one of the community’s previously unstable trestles.

GWI will also be examining the possibility of increasing the storage capacity there.
“The section of the community where that trestle is located has a well and a distribution network. However, another section of the community does not have access to potable water, and the residents practise rainwater harvesting. During the dry season, the residents access water from a tap which can be found in the compound of a well in the community. The water from the well is fed to storage tanks on a trestle then to the tap. GWI will be conducting additional plumbing works to ensure that water is supplied to this section of the community,” the Company stated.

This week, GWI will also commence the installation of distribution pipes and will be interconnecting the entire system in the community, inclusive of the two trestles.
The release stated “GWI remains committed to ensuring that the quality of the water provided to residents in the hinterland is maintained. Therefore, water quality testing will be done on a monthly basis and the results will be made accessible to all residents.”