FOLLOWING a rupture of a 14-inch water transmission line on Cemetery Road last Saturday, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has begun the installation of a new pipeline along the Cemetery Road carriageway.

The laying of the approximately 700 feet of pipes is expected to be completed by Friday.

The company noted that, due to the proximity of the rupture to the cemetery, and the risks associated with working in the conditions of a flooded cemetery, the decision was taken to abandon a section of the pipeline, and install a new line along the carriageway of Cemetery Road.

“It’s [the pipeline] much more into the cemetery [than previous ruptures] so for that reason we will not be able to repair that main. The cemetery is submerged right now and the main and the tombs are at the same level so what we’re doing now is re-routing that line and moving that line along Cemetery Road and abandon that line within the cemetery,” explained GWI Executive Director of Operations, Dwayne Shako, after assessment of the rupture was done last Saturday.

The affected pipeline runs along the Le Repentir Cemetery.

GWI Regional Manager (acting), Eson Pearson, noted that, initially, the tombs were not as closely located to the pipeline.

“The pipe is run not more than three feet from the tombs. Originally the tombs weren’t as far in front here but as they didn’t have enough space the tombs started to come more out to the front and closer to the pipe now. So we’ve decided to relocate the pipes,” Pearson explained.

Works on the project have been going along smoothly except for a few hiccups.

“We did have some obstruction with GTT, because they have their lines, and we had some setback with that and we had to divert a little,” Pearson explained.

The project also encountered some issues with sourcing the requisite materials.

“We were supposed to start earlier but we had some problems getting some fittings to fit the pipes. Because a lot of people don’t have this 14-inch pipe in the country, muchless to have the fittings, so we had to wait until that came before we could go on with the work,” Pearson said.

Nonetheless, Pearson is optimistic that the work will be completed by Friday.

“Right now we’re at the stage where we’ve almost finished putting down all of the pipes. Today we’re supposed to finish off putting down the pipes and by Friday we should finish all the other works so that the new line could be active,” he said.

The repairs to the pipeline is the latest in a series of works and repairs conducted on pipes along Cemetery Road as well as other parts around the city, over the past few years, owing to the aged state of the city’s main pipelines.

“For the last 1.5 – 2 years we’ve been doing a lot of work here because it ruptured on several different occasions, about six times. The pipelines have reached their limit, they’re rotten and can’t take the pressure of the water any longer,” Pearson related.