Several Region One communities will be subject to upgrades to their water infrastructure over the next two months, with many set to gain access to potable water for the first time.
The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) reported that over the weekend, Managing Director of the company, Richard Van West-Charles, visited several sites where the works have already begun or will commence shortly.
The scheduled works include the digging of new wells in Mabaruma, White Water, Kamwatta, Matthews Ridge and Port Kaituma. According to Dr. Van West-Charles, all of the works will be completed within the next two months.
He acknowledged that there may be other communities in the region without water access while pointing out that as those discoveries are registered, provisions will be made in the utility’s 2020 capital programme.
In Mabaruma, it was found that there is limited water supply due to an extended dry period, which has affected the recharge of the three springs used as the main water sources. The solution was to drill wells at an average depth of 150 metres, however, after evaluation, GWI will be increasing the depth to 230 metres.
The company said additional drilling pipes are being mobilised to advance deeper drilling.
GWI has already commenced drilling a well in Kamwatta, which will provide 450 residents with first time access to potable water. Another will be drilled in White Water, benefitting 1,700 residents, who will receive improved access to potable water.
The release stated that in Port Kaituma, where the current source of water for the residents is the Port Kaituma River, which is at risk of contamination from mining, agricultural and other activities, 540 residents stand to benefit from improved water access.
A new well has been drilled and the laying of some 4 kilometres of pipeline is already 50% complete, taking the community halfway in its transition to groundwater supply, which will impact the community’s school, hospital and the entire Fitzburg area, the release said, noting that GWI is working to supply the community with 24-hour potable water access.
Other works to be executed in Port Kaituma are the construction of the discharge (the connection from two wells to the transmission line and the interconnection and installation of gate valves), which are used to control the water supply network. Disinfection of the pipelines will also be done before the new wells are activated.
It was further reported that within three weeks’ time, a drilling rig will be mobilised to drill a new well between the One and Two Miles area. This well will provide some 800 residents between One to Four Miles with first time access to potable water.
In Matthews Ridge, where the company found that the water supply from the spring that usually provides the community with water is inadequate, it will set out to drill a new well there as well, benefiting some 940 residents, who will have an improved water supply.
The Managing Director noted that the region has a series of riverain communities and the utility has to ensure that schools and health facilities in particular have an adequate supply of potable water.
He said that GWI has had the full cooperation of the Regional Executive Officers of Regions 1 and 9, who have made stellar contributions during the execution of works in these regions.
“This year has been dubbed as a historic year for the water utility as it has more aggressively pursued well development and drilling. This forms part of the company’s efforts to ensure safe water for all, a Sustainable Development Goal,” the release stated.
