RESIDENTS of the communities of Coomacka and Ituni in the Upper-Demerara/Upper-Berbice Region are expected to benefit from improved water supply and delivery of the service from the Guyana Water Inc.

According to a release from the water company, Coomacka, where approximately 750 residents live, is receiving little to no water since the distribution system, which was constructed through the Rotary years ago, is now blocked.

Managing Director of GWI, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, and a team of officials, upon the invitation of the Community Development Council, assured residents during a community meeting on Thursday that the utility company will work to ensure quality water is provided to them. He stated that GWI is pushing ahead to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number six by 2025 instead of 2030.

SDG Six speaks to ensuring access to potable water for all.
Executive Director of Operations, Mr. Dwayne Shako, said the team will work towards completing the upgrade works within the next two months. As an immediate solution, GWI will move to rehabilitate the existing well, address the issue of high iron content in the water, clean the distribution lines and repair stand-pipes. The utility will also be exploring the practicality of drilling a new well in the community.

The Managing Director explained that even as works are underway for the drilling of two new wells in Amelia’s Ward, Linden, GWI will utilise the same equipment to drill deeper in Coomacka, with the aim of accessing better quality water.

He reassured that with new technology at GWI’s disposal, finding quality water underground is now easier, as compared to some 23 years ago when the utility was not equipped with the requisite technology and equipment to sufficiently get the job done.
Dr. Van West-Charles said government’s approval of funding now allows the company to function optimally and afford its customers a better life.

Prior to the distribution of water to residents, GWI will conduct water quality tests and make the results available to the community.

National Director of the National Community Development Council, Mr. Eugene Gilbert, thanked GWI for its swift response in attending to the matter of access to water in Coomacka. He noted that Thursday’s community meeting came on the heels of a recently-concluded Regional CDC Conference.

Meanwhile, GWI has completed the drilling of an additional well at Ituni to a depth of approximately 300ft.

According to the utility company, Dr. Van West-Charles and other GWI officials visited the area on Friday, July 12, 2019, where they inspected the site of the new well.

Developmental works are currently being done on the well, which will be followed by test pumping. Water quality testing will also be done to ensure that the water produced is within the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard before it is provided to residents.
It is expected that the well will produce about 30 cubic meters of water per hour, GWI said. The drilling if this additional well will facilitate extended pumping hours to some 742 residents of that community. Upon completion, the residents will benefit from improved water quality and increased hours of water supply. Water quality testing will be done on a continuous basis to ensure that the quality of the water is maintained.