The Guyana Water Inc (GWI) yesterday said that all water leaving the Shelter-Belt Treatment Plant is “safe and free of all contaminants” following extensive tests on water samples, almost three weeks after dead fish were first discovered floating in the Lamaha Conservancy.
GWI said in a release that following the discovery of the fish in the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) a series of “extensive tests”, were conducted on water samples taken from the area where the fish were found and GWI’s Shelter-Belt Water Treatment Plant. The tests “revealed that the water being sourced from the EDWC, and supplied to customers of Georgetown by way of the Shelter –Belt Water Treatment Plant contained no poisonous contaminants, man-made pesticides or any such abnormalities,” the release said. It also said that there was “no evidence of fecal coliforms or other bacteriological contaminants in the water leaving the Treatment Plant.”
The tests were conducted by GWI and the Ministries of Health and Agriculture with support from the Environ-mental Protection Agency (EPA). According to the release, “all tests were conducted within the parameters of the World Health Organi-zation (WHO).”
Officials from the Health Ministry’s Veterinary Depart-ment conducted examinations of the dead fish taken from the conservancy and “concluded that the specimens died from a bacteriological agent.” As a result, the officials from the Health Ministry advised that the water company increase the dosage of chlorine contained in the water distributed by the Shelter-Belt.
“The water utility will continue to conduct its routine tests of water supplied to Georgetown customers by way of the Shelter-Belt Water Treatment Plant in the interest of maintaining absolute safety,” the company said. According to the release, the health of its customers remained a priority for the Minister of Housing and Water and the water utility.
On May 28, several dead fish were found floating in the Sheriff Street location of the Lamaha Canal and were hastily removed from the water by the authorities. Reports were that the fish were first spotted on the previous day but the number increased the next day. A few days after this incident, Housing Minister Irfaan Ali told Stabroek News that the water had been certified as “safe” following tests. This newspaper was also told by an official from the Agriculture Ministry that some water samples were sent abroad for additional testing.
Last week Tuesday more dead fish were found floating in the canal and were quickly removed. When reached for comment, Ali said that this was not a new episode but that the dead fish were from the first incident.
