RESIDENTS of Charity on the Pomeroon are concerned about a foul stench which emanates from the water running through the pipes in the community.

This publication was told that for years the situation has been occurring and residents reported on Sunday that there appears no solution to the problem.

However, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Water Inc (GWI), Dr Richard Van- West Charles told the Guyana Chronicle, on Monday, that each week the company usually carries out exercises to flush the water system using a chemical solution.

Dr Van-West Charles said a more permanent solution is being crafted in which the company will be treating the water in a project from funds garnered via a Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) loan. On Saturday, the publication visited the area and was told by residents that for some time the water has been “smelly.” Several persons who were visiting the area, from Georgetown and overseas, noted that they were unable to cope with the water scent and were forced to purchase water in order to take a bath and carry out other grooming exercises. A woman who vends in front of the Xenon hotel noted that persons reported that their hair became stiff after they took a bath.

A businessman, Afro Alphonso, noted that he was familiar with the situation and added that the authorities should try to remedy the situation. He said that at his business place, a filtration system was installed to remedy the situation. However, patrons at a hotel which the businessman operates, noted that they were trying their best to stomach the scent.
A market vendor at Charity noted that she had raised the issue with a visiting delegation of officials from the government during an outreach at Anna Regina in May this year and two government ministers related that they experienced the situation regarding the water. She said persons were told that the matter would have been addressed and corrected.

According to residents, GWI operates two water systems at the villages of Somerset & Berks and at Dartmouth but while the water in those areas appears to be stench-free, the situation at Charity is different.

They posited that the situation may be in the pipes which connect the wells to Charity.