GUYANA, often called the “Land of Many Waters,” has historically grappled with water supply challenges. However, the current administration is making significant strides to transform the nation’s water systems. The Ministry of Housing and Water is working tirelessly to reassess and upgrade systems, ensuring clean and reliable water for Guyanese citizens.
On Friday, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal conducted a series of inspections at water treatment facilities in Vergenoegen, Parika, and Pouderoyen, in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). Accompanied by GWI’s Regional Manager, Mr. Aggrey Anderson, and a technical team, Minister Croal highlighted the initiatives implemented to address residents’ water concerns.

Vergenoegen: Doubling Capacity and Extending Coverage
At the Vergenoegen Treatment Plant (WTP), Minister Croal addressed recent challenges caused by the breakdown of one of three wells due to electrical issues and pump system damage. This disruption forced GWI to reduce delivery hours, significantly impacting approximately 24,000 residents from Zeelugt to parts of Vergenoegen.

“Emergency repairs were executed to restore full operation of the well by Friday evening, ensuring better water access for residents,” Minister Croal stated. He then detailed the ongoing $633 million upgrade at the treatment plant, which will double its output from 5 Mega Liters per Day (MLD) to 10 MLD within a month.

A new $110 million well, initially drilled for the upgraded system, will be connected to the existing infrastructure within two weeks to boost capacity ahead of the overall upgrade. The enhanced treatment plant will extend services to residents in the Tuschen area.

Minister Croal emphasised, “As it is right now, any interruption will affect households. So, in addition to ensuring that we have reliable, safe water coming to the households, it is also about ensuring that we have redundancy in the system.”

Parika: New Plant to Serve Thousands
The minister’s visit to Parika revealed ongoing challenges for residents in Parika and Hubu due to the rehabilitation of the Hubu well. However, Minister Croal assured that these works would be completed by the weekend, with normal service resuming by Monday.

The highlight of the Parika visit was the tour of the new $850 million Parika WTP, now 80 per cent complete. This state-of-the-art facility will serve 3,500 households from Parika to sections of Vergenoegen, ensuring a minimum service level of 1,500 PSI. The plant, projected for completion in December, will be supported by both the existing well and a new well being drilled nearby, together meeting a demand of 4.5 MLD.

“This system will be interlinked with the Vergenoegen WTP to improve water quality,” Minister Croal explained. The plant boasts a contact tank and two filters, with a capacity of 6.8 MLD, catering to future population increases. It is also equipped with four booster pumps at 100 cubic meters per hour and 40 metres each to maintain 15 PSI.

Pouderoyen: Expanding Service and Enhancing Capabilities
In Pouderoyen, GWI has successfully upgraded the No. 2 Well, normalising distribution hours after the collapse of the No. 1 well affected production levels. The ongoing upgrade of the Pouderoyen Water Treatment Plant aims to enhance transmission and production capabilities.

Once completed, this upgrade will extend treated water service to La Grange, increasing coverage from 5,000 households (approximately 20,000 residents) to nearly 9,000 households (36,000 residents). Improvements include a new filter, system upgrades, and enhanced chlorination systems at both sites.

These comprehensive upgrades and expansions promise to significantly improve water quality, reliability, and accessibility for tens of thousands of residents. As these projects near completion, the region is poised for a transformative leap in its water infrastructure, setting a new standard for water service delivery in Guyana.