–also warns against tampering with sewer chambers
GUYANA Water Inc. (GWI) is appealing to all businesses involved in food preparation to install and consistently clean grease traps.The appeal follows the hospitalisation of a mother and her toddler after they both fell into an uncovered manhole on Water Street. The incident occurred Tuesday in the vicinity of the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) fast-food outlet.

GWI said in a release yesterday that the company continues to receive numerous reports of overflowing sewerage resulting from sewer pipes becoming clogged due to coagulated fats and oils used for food preparation by restaurants and hotels.

GREASE TRAPS

GWI’s Sanitation Department records in excess of seven sewerage overflows per week, resulting from restaurants and hotels not installing grease traps or failing to clean the devices.

The water company has noted recent media reports regarding persons being injured due to the removal of sewer chamber covers by unauthorized persons, and is advising that “it is an offence to tamper with any device under the purview of the Guyana Water Incorporated as stipulated by the Water and Sewerage 2002 Act.”

GWI also expressed its alarm at the recent events and urges all residents of Georgetown to report immediately any instances of tampering, particularly the removal of sewer chamber covers to GWI.

Through the Government of Guyana/Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) US$10,000,000 Georgetown Sanitation Improvement Programme (GSIP), GWI is rehabilitating the entire sewerage system in an effort to alleviate sewerage overflows. However, without residents utilizing the system properly the improvements will yield poor results, GWI said in its release.

SEMINAR PLANNED
The company, through the GSIP, is planning a seminar for hotel and restaurant owners to provide education on the installation and correct use of the grease trap. This is expected to be held within the second quarter of 2014.

In addition, GWI conducts scheduled inspections of hotels and restaurants to ensure that grease traps are being effectively utilized. The company also provides advice for hotel and restaurant owners on the correct use of the device via its call centre and Sanitation Department.

To report instances of tampering customers are advised to call GWI’s Customer Services Call Centre on 227-8701/03/04, e-mail customercallcentre@gwi.gy, visit www.gwiguyana.com or post via social media at www.facebook.com/everydropcountsgy