TEN water processors have been asked by the Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) to cease operations following a survey conducted among 46 processors in Georgetown and its immediate environs.
According to a release, the exercise was conducted during the period October 2020 and January 2021.
“A total of 160 water samples were taken by inspectors of the department and submitted to our Food Microbiology laboratory where the test parameters for total Coliform and E. coli were performed: A test that gives a general indication of the sanitary and safety condition of the water supplied.

“This survey/exercise was therefore conducted to determine whether the sanitary/microbiological requirements as outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard for drinking water quality were being met.
“Of the 160 samples submitted, 109, or 68 per cent, were found to be satisfactory, while 51, or 32 per cent, were found to be unsatisfactory for the parameters tested. The department then had cause to with immediate effect ask 10 water processors to cease operations and there were only allowed to resume operations after satisfying sanitary and microbiological safety requirements in the best interest of the consuming public,” the release said.

Environmental Health Officers (EHOs), or sanitary inspectors, who work with inspectors of the GA-FDD have been alerted to this survey/exercise findings, and would be conducting a similar survey among water processors in their regions, the release noted.
It also pointed out that only 25 of the 46 water processors who participated in the survey were in possession of the Water Treatment and Basic Sanitation certificate issued by Empretec Guyana Inc. This is another basic requirement that water processors must fulfill in order to be licenced or be approved to process.
The Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department is reminding all water processors to submit regular samples to the department; and to ensure that processing, sanitation and record keeping requirements are adequately maintained to protect the consuming public.