Of the $2.9B allocated to the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) for improving potable water supply and distribution systems in 2019, the government expended a sum of $1.4B during the first half. This is according to the government’s mid-year report which was issued last week by the Ministry of Finance.
METER INSTALLATION
To ensure that investments in water result in the efficient management, the company installed 3,952 meters in 1,271 villages across Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), resulting in the reduction of non-revenue water of approximately 8,640 cubic metres each month.
WATER TREATMENT PLANTS, WELLS
According to the report, works are progressing on water treatment plants at Uitvlugt on the West Coast of Demerara; Diamond, East Bank Demerara; and Sheet Anchor in Berbice. These are expected to be completed by the end of 2019 and will benefit more than 50,000 households.
Under the New Amsterdam Water Treatment Plant Project, 60% of the metering activities has been completed at the end of the reporting period. The report noted that the subsequent reduction in non-revenue water will allow for improved delivery of water to residents of Sandvoort by increasing water pressure in the mains.
Further, it was noted that in order to expand access to potable water, a new well was constructed at Vergenoegen on the East Bank of Essequibo, which is now benefitting over 4,000 households. Meanwhile, works on wells at Pouderoyen and Westminster on the western bank of the Demerara River are expected to be completed by the end of this month. It is expected that these wells will increase the capacity of the three water treatment plants in Region Three, thereby improving service delivery to residents.
In addition, works will commence on new wells at Farm, Lusignan, and Fyrish, in the second half of 2019, after the acquisition of a new drilling rig.
Meanwhile, the expansion of water supply systems on the East Bank Essequibo corridor and Ruby is expected to be completed by the end of 2019 and will benefit approximately 1,350 persons and 500 persons, respectively.
Works were set to commence in the second half of this year on the expansion of the water supply system at Parika. New pumps were installed at water treatment plants in Linden – Watooka, Amelia’s Ward and Wisroc – and works commenced to upgrade the water distribution network and transmission mains at Orealla, Ithaca and Kingelly, all of which are expected to be completed by December 2019.
HINTERLAND DISTRIBUTION
According to the report, the expansion of the current 40% access to potable water by residents in the hinterland, continues to be a priority of the government.
To that end, in Region One (Barima-Waini) a new well was completed in April at Port Kaituma, giving 50% of the community, or approximately 1,300 persons, access to potable water.
Additionally, refurbishment works, including upgrades to parts of the distribution system and the cleaning of springs, were completed at Matthew’s Ridge in March, resulting in the improvement in the quality and supply of water.
In Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni), works were completed on a new well at Campbelltown and a new water supply distribution system was activated at Paramakatoi, providing 90% of the community, or approximately 1,142 persons, with access to potable water for the first time.
The activation of a new well at Sand Creek was also completed, resulting in the continuous supply of potable water to 90% of the community, compared to 20% prior to this intervention.
In Region 9 (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo), works on a well at St. Ignatius were completed, resulting in 185 persons now having access for the first time. New wells were also completed in eight villages including Aishalton, Annai, Karasabai, Nappi, and Aranaputa, all of which will be operationalised by the end of this month.
