RESIDENTS of Five Miles, Bartica, Region Seven, will soon access potable water in their homes for the first time, as the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) moves to procure a $30 million water booster pump.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, related this plan to residents during an outreach in Bartica on Monday. He subsequently visited the area where the pump will be installed at Four Miles.
Minister Croal said the booster pump will arrive in the country within two weeks, after which it will be installed and over 800 residents will have water flowing through their taps.

“We have the civil works component which will see us putting the pipe system, the housing in the area where we will put the booster pumps, as well as for the electro mechanical system to function. So, everything is in place; all we are waiting for now is the arrival of the pumps,” Minister Croal said.

The minister had visited the community last year and committed to expanding the water distribution system in Bartica so water could be accessed in Five Miles.

But there were some challenges with pumping the water from the Bartica Water Treatment Plant to that community, which is located on a hill with an 83-metre elevation. The water treatment plant could only pump water to an elevation of 45 feet, which covers up to Four Miles.

Minister Croal subsequently visited in April this year and announced the procurement of a booster pump. The minister explained that there were some delays with the shipment of that pump.

“I would like to apologise on behalf of us from the management level and GWI and this government for the delay…but, I want to assure you that by the end of the year, once the pumps are here, Five Miles will definitely get their water,” Croal said.

Over $120 million has been spent to expand water distribution and drill new wells in Region Seven this year. Apart from the expansion of the Bartica distribution system, a new water supply system was completed in Kamarang to provide service to more than 600 residents.

Additionally, a new water system is being constructed in Jawalla and Kaikan to provide service to more than 1,000 people. An expanded water system was also commissioned at River’s View, which is close to Region Seven, but located in Region 10.