City Hall today said that of its five hydro flow pumps, three are operable and two are under repair. In a press release, the city was outlining how the present flooding was being handled.
A statement from the city follows:
The Mayor and City Council wishes to inform the general public that its Engineer and special technical team are in the fields monitoring overtopping in different sections of the city.
This overtopping is due to the coincidence of heavy rains over the last 24hrs (almost 3 inches in a 6 hour period) and high tides. The city is 4ft below the normal high tide and an additional 2ft at spring tide. It depends on a system of sluices and pumps for drainage.
There are five hydro flow pumps along the Demerara River of which there (3) are operable; two are under repairs. Also, there are twelve sluices, which are opened during low tides to facilitate outflow of storm water. Also, there are four (4) electrically operated pumps which discharge into the Atlantic Ocean.
Over the last two weeks, the City Engineer Department has been reviewing the city’s drainage system and drains in local communities. The Department has been working closely with the Ministries of Infrastructure and Agriculture to ensure the integrity of our drainage system.
At the moment, the City Engineer has set up an operation room, at City Hall, to receive information from our sluices and pump attendants, to monitor the situation and provide technical and allied assistance to local neighbourhoods.
The Mayor and City Council leans upon the understanding and cooperation of all of its citizens to ensure that our drains, canals and waterways are free from garbage and other things that could restrict their capacity to hold storm water and reduce the flow through our outfall channels.
Also, Council is appealing to home-owners to re-think the amount of spaces they concrete in their yards. This is preventing storm water from going to the lower aquifer thereby aggravating the situation in local areas.
Last year, council expended in excess of $500M in drainage works so far for this year (2016) the Treasurers Department has expended in excess of $155M.
