The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) recently installed two solar water pumps at the Parika back dam communities and is set to install a third at Ruby Backdam this week.

Employees from the GWI installing solar-powered water pumps in two East Bank Essequibo communities.

The pumps were received from the Japanese government last week, GWI said in a press release. They were installed at the Parika Backdam Primary School and the Naamryck backdam on Thursday and Friday. GWI said these communities are not currently connected to its potable water network on the East Bank Essequibo, due to their remote location and sparse settlement in the Parika back lands. “These communities had 4” wells with hand pumps that were installed in 2002,” the release said. GWI also said these assets were replaced with Groundfos variable speed submersible motors and 2 m Cu. per hour pumps powered by 350 watt photovoltaic arrays.

The existing storage tanks at the Parika backdam nursery and primary school, which serve over 150 teachers and students, were used to store the water abstracted from the well.

The nearby community is also benefiting from this facility. Also, two static tanks had been installed at Naamryck for storing water for residents.

GWI urges residents to use the facilities carefully and to protect the investment from vandals.