High water levels in the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) yesterday forced its management to resume the “controlled discharge out of the Maduni and Lama sluices”, the Ministry of Agriculture announced.
“Due to continued rainfall resulting from the La Niña weather condition and ongoing spring tide, the level of the EDWC has been rising dangerously,” a release from the ministry said.
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud told this newspaper yesterday that the discharge into the Mahaica Creek will continue until the water level is safe. Persaud visited the area yesterday afternoon following heavy early morning rain. More than 5 inches of rainfall were recorded yesterday morning, the release stated. Residents in low-lying areas along the coast and inland regions were asked to take maximum precaution, the release said, adding that “all the relevant agencies are on a high state of responsiveness and alert.”
Meanwhile, even as water was released into the Mahaica Creek, this and the high tide yesterday led to overtopping affecting communities nearby. Residents of Helena, Mahaica lined the streets watching as the water flowed into the community. Several yards in the area were already flooded and the overtopping would have worsened this in some areas. However, several pumps were in operation trying to drain the land.
One resident told this newspaper that the overtopping was something which they had become accustomed to. There was overtopping yesterday morning as well during the high tide, this newspaper was told.
On Tuesday, the management of the EDWC first began releasing water via the Maduni and Lama outlets as the water levels rose. This was discontinued the following day, even as residents in communities along the Mahaica Creek continued to brace themselves for the worst.
Meanwhile, several areas along the East Coast Demerara, including Enmore, Dazzell Housing Scheme, Friendship, Buxton and Annandale remained under water. While the water in some areas had gone down by yesterday afternoon, residents in some of these areas such as Buxton said that the water rose following the heavy rainfall yesterday morning.
