THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the expansion of its Real-time Water Quality Monitoring Systems (RTWQMS), with the deployment of a buoy on the Essequibo River and at Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
This was done in mid-May 2024.
Building on its Strategic Vision for 2024-2030, which emphasises the integration of strict scientific methodologies, and cutting-edge technologies, the EPA has partnered with the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) to deploy the buoy at a strategic position near Saxacalli Village, and the Bartica township in Region Seven.
This collaborative initiative underscores the EPA’s unwavering commitment to protecting water resources, and fostering a sustainable future.
These systems, they said, allow for continuous and precise monitoring of water quality parameters in the Essequibo River, such as the pH (potential of hydrogen), temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and conductivity, and transmit the data wirelessly to a cloud server.
The primary objective of implementing the Monitoring System is to enable early detection of any changes in water quality, and the prompt identification of key pollutants in our water bodies through accurate real-time data.
Furthermore, the EPA states that data collected from the Monitoring System would inform the development of national ambient water quality standards for rivers, and enable swift response and action to mitigate impacts, and prevent risks to human health and environment.
By focusing on those areas directly impacted by mining activities, the EPA’s mission is clear: To comprehensively understand environmental dynamics in order to effectively guide its regulatory interventions.
This is the agency’s second deployment. The first RTWQMS deployment was done in the lower Demerara River in August 2023. This, along with the one deployed in Bartica were both purchased with G$100 million allocated by the government to the EPA as part of its 2023 budget.
The EPA is empowered by the Environmental Protection Act to oversee the environmental activities of all persons. The agency is regulatory, with the authority to grant or not to grant permits for developmental projects that will impact the environment.
As a regulator, the EPA is also required to monitor activities of development, and to enforce the provisions of the Act. The work of the EPA is organised into technical programme areas, supported by the Operations and Corporate, Human Resources, Finance and Communications Departments.
