…several new wells to be drilled as the water company acquires rigs
By Navendra Seoraj
THE household chores of Georgetown residents have often been interrupted or disrupted because of “water outages,” often caused by breakages in the “aged” water network (pipes), something which the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) will soon be replacing.
Just December, residents of Kitty, Campbellville, Subryanville, Bel Air, Queenstown, Alberttown, Bourda, Lacytown, Cummingsburg, Wortmanville, Lodge, Thomas Lands, Charlestown, and Albouystown were affected because of ruptured pipes at Church Street.
The breakage of the transmission line was, at that time, the latest, in a number of breakages, which had occurred to the Church Street and other transmission lines, throughout 2019. The breakages were as a result of the aged state of the transmission lines which constitute the Georgetown network, which was installed over 100 years ago.
In 2019, Managing Director of GWI, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles, had said that a $51M replacement of the Church Street water transmission line was expected to commence in the first quarter of 2020; and, it was expected that the other replacements will follow.
“There have been many breakages in Georgetown because of an old network, but government has afforded us the opportunity to purchase the requisite pipes to replace the lines,” said Dr. Van West-Charles during his remarks at the recent commissioning ceremony for a US$6M Uitvlugt Water Treatment Plant.
Additionally, Dr. Van West-Charles said, GWI purchased two well-drilling rigs, which will arrive this month, one of which will be sent to the hinterland and the other will be utilised in Georgetown.
These rigs, he said, will see wells being drilled at Farm, East Bank Demerara and Central Georgetown, among other areas. After the new wells are drilled, persons in those communities will have a “24/7” water supply.
“We are moving apace to ensure there is a level of redundancy and that all productive areas are going to be on a 24/7 basis…we also have set standards whereby water should be reaching the second floor of a house about 15 feet,” said Dr. van West-Charles, noting that it is a standard which the utility company is working hard to attain throughout the system.
By augmenting and improving its systems, GWI is hoping to also phase out “black tanks” because most times the quality of water, stored in those tanks, is not up to standard. According to Dr. Van West-Charles, the water, which flows from GWI’s plants, meets the standards outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“So there is no need in these communities for black tanks because we will increase our pressure…you will only have to use electrical pumps if you’re living in the fourth storey of a building,” said the managing director.
Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon said recently that water is an essential part of the good life, which government speaks of, because “water is life,” and access to good, quality water is a human right.
“You have a right to high and good quality of water…it is a human right and it is enshrined in international documents…it is one of the SDGs, which is set for countries to achieve by 2030…but the CEO (GWI) has given himself up to 2025, which is commendable,” said the Director-General.
Harmon was satisfied with the pace at which GWI is going and believes that GWI could actually ensure there is universal access to quality water by 2025.
“I say we have increased and improved quality of life, and created the good life in many different ways…for instance some people living in an unregulated community now have the joy of turning on a pipe and getting running water which is clean,” said the Director-General, noting that GWI is executing its projects in a way to ensure that there is water at the lowest levels.
On Sunday it was reported that 20,000 persons, who reside within the catchment area of the Tuschen/Uitvlugt Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), will benefit from ‘pure’ and ‘clean’ water through GWI’s US$6M Uitvlugt Water Treatment Plant.
It will provide residents of Hague Back, Cornelia Ida, Anna Catherina, Leonora, Stewartville, Uitvlugt, Zeeburg, De Willem, Meten-Meer-Zorg and De Kinderen, with 24-hour access to treated water. It was built by Sinohydro Corporation.
The project was funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the European Union (EU). The beneficiaries are receiving improved water quality, quantity and continuity of service. This includes schools and health facilities.
The plant’s peak treatment capacity is 15,000 cubic meters of water per day and the water produced is free from iron, pathogenic organisms and other contaminants. It is safe for drinking purposes and household usage.
