The residents of three North Rupununi communities have been promised new wells and distribution networks to improve their access to a potable water supply.
The pledge was made by Managing Director of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Dr. Richard Van West-Charles during a visit last week, when he learned that many residents from the communities of Apoteri, Crashwater and Rewa do not have access to potable water from the current water systems in place.
Last Thursday, GWI said in a press release issued yesterday,
Van West-Charles and a team from the GWI went to assess water and sanitation situations in the villages and discovered that a number of residents were not accessing potable water from the existing water system. The team was told that only residents living close to the water systems have access to potable water and many still depend on hand-dug wells.
“Toshao of Apoteri, Mr. Kenny Thomas indicated that the water in the wells goes low during the dry season. Similar situations exist in the other two villages. Toshao of Rewa, Mr. Rudolph Edwards noted that during the rainy season, the hand dug wells become contaminated and contribute to water borne diseases such as diarrhea,” the release noted.
As a result, Van West-Charles assured them that with new technology, GWI will ensure that every household can have access to potable water. He further said that the new technology will treat surface water if ground water is not available.
He pointed out that GWI has taken note of the difficulties they have experienced in accessing water during the dry season in 2016/2017 and the company has since moved to drill wells that can withstand the seasons and produce water all year long.
Van West-Charles also stated that the government has approved funding for the purchase of a rig that will drill through rocks to access water. This, he explained, will make a significant difference in the quality of water provided. Further, he stated, trestles will be constructed to serve different clusters of homes that are not located close to water systems in the villages.
He assured them that they can look forward to upgraded water systems and improved access to potable water in the near future as provisions will be made to drill new wells and install distribution networks, the release added.
