Residents of Timehri North and Hauraruni, East Bank of Demerara, are now receiving improved access to potable water as a result of the Water Supply System Improvement Sub-Projects, the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) has reported.
Although the system at the Timehri Pump Station was installed during the period September 12, 2017 and May 11, 2018, and the system at Hauraruni between May 2, 2017 and November 22, 2017, they were officially handed over to GWI yesterday during two separate ceremonies.
The project at Timehri, executed at a cost of $43,012,200, involved the installation of PVC transmission mains, flush out points, and booster pumps, at GWI’s Timehri Pump Station.
The Hauraruni project, which included the construction of a well, supply and installation of a PV pumping system, construction of an elevated storage facility and the installation of transmission lines, was carried out to the tune of $24,555,877.
The projects, which were executed by S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction services, resulted from a collaboration between GWI and the Caribbean Development Bank’s Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), an implementing and funding agency under the Ministry of Finance.
Approximately 6,450 residents are said to now be accessing water as a result of the newly installed systems. The release noted that nine residents were also trained in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene under the project, this aspect having been executed by the BNTF, in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Hinterland Electrification Unit of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and GWI.
It was related that the Community Development Council had reached out to GWI to provide access to potable water in the communities and had even offered assistance.
The company noted that because of the systems, residents no longer have to walk long distances to access potable water, which is now available “even in the top flats of their homes”.
Managing Director of GWI, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles, alluding to the position of President David Granger, who has called for equity between the hinterland and the coastland, noted that one of the company’s priority areas is ensuring access to potable water at health facilities and schools.
Furthermore, the release said he acknowledged that there are still many communities that lack potable water, and assured that the company is working assiduously to find the resources to provide this access. It was reported that BNTF Project Manager, Dikedemma Utoh, emphasized that billions of people worldwide are still living without access to safe water. As such, BNTF, is pleased to work along with GWI to provide residents with potable water access.
During the ceremony at Timehri North, resident Colin King expressed gratitude to the drivers of the project for “greatly improving the lives of the residents”.
“He pointed out that the previous administration had labeled Timehri North as a squatting area and even demolished some of the houses, an act that created emotional trauma of fear and uncertainty. Therefore, the resident noted, efforts to provide the community with access to potable water served to bring some much needed healing,” GWI reported.
“Mr. King stressed that the success of the project has removed the everyday rigour of early morning and late night fetching of water for domestic use and the health dangers of household self-storage,” it added.
Hauraruni residents also spoke of the hardships they faced prior to the project, and the difficulties in walking long distances to fetch water.
“One such resident was Pastor Keeshan Banwarie, who outlined the various methods which were tried over the years for residents to gain access to potable water…He said that residents also traveled to Timehri to purchase water for drinking but with the intervention, they now have access to water that is safe for drinking. The resident noted that the supply of water is now satisfactory,” the release related.
