High percentage of water providers fails WHO-approved standards

Pouring fresh mineral water from a bottle into a glass, hydration and diet concept

MICROBIOLOGICAL TESTS ON MORE THAN 160 WATER SAMPLES by providers operating around the capital and its environs revealed only 68 percent met international standards revealed Dr Marlon Cole, Director of the Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD).

The GAFDD conducted the survey between October 2020 and January 2021 to determine whether the World Health Organisation (WHO) sanitary/microbiological required standards for drinking water quality were being met.

According to the GAFFD statement 10 of the 51 water providers which failed to meet the WHO standards were immediately closed until they met the sanitary and microbiological global criteria.

The Food and Drugs Department did not disclose the names of those companies which failed to meet the WHO-approved regulations.

Dr Cole was also quoted in the GAFFD statement indicating that Environmental Health Officers (EHO’s) or Sanitary Inspectors who collaborated with GA-FFD Inspectors were notified of the survey findings and advised that similar surveys would be carried out among water processors in their respective regions.

The GAFDD Director said only 25 of the 46 water processors who participated in the 2020-2021 survey possessed the Water Treatment & Basic Sanitation certificate issued by Empretec Guyana Inc.

This is an elementary requirement for licensing.

Below is a list of officially approved GA-FDD water providers:

N0	NAME OF WATER BUSINESS	ADDRESS
1	Ultra Valley Water	Lot 1665 Tuschen, New Scheme, East Bank Demerara
2	Edmond Durban Grumbal	Lot 13 Public Road, Three Friends, Essequibo Coast
3	Clear Spring Purified Water	Lot 35 Goed Intent, W.B.D
4	D & L Purified Refill Water	7 & 8 Public Road, La Grange, W.B.D
5	D & L Purified Water	153 Public Road Nismes, W.C.D
6	Blue Natural Spring	151 Public Road, Zeeburg, W.C.D
7	Blue Ribbon Manf.Guyana Inc	97 West Meer-Zorg, W.C.D
8	Banks D.I.H	Thirst Park, Georgetown
9	Demerara Distillers Limited	Plantation Diamond, E.B.D
10	Rafeena Mohamed	Lot 13, # 78 Village, C/tyne, Berbice
11	Amazon Water Depot	Lot 2232 Section’C’, Block X, Housing Scheme, Diamond, E.B.D
12	Aquafina Water & Ice	Lot 160 Section D, Non Pariel, E.C.D
13	Rajendra Jai Jai Ram	Lot 2 A, Balgobin Street, Rose Hall, Berbice
14	Pure Aqua	Lot 420 4th ,Herstelling, E.D.B
15	First Choice Purified Water	335 Tuschen, New Scheme, E.B.D
16	Shield Waters	Lot 1356 Section ‘A’, Block X, Diamond, E.B.D
17	Optimum Pure Water	Lot 22 Public Road, Nabaclis, E.B.D
18	Balram Water Store	Lot 7 Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast
19	Pure Plus Water	Lot 34 Meadow Brook, Garden, G/town
20	Joy Water	Lot 200 1st Street, Mocha, E.B.D
21	Pristine Waters	Lot 120 Vryheid’s Lust North, E.C.D
22	Atlantic Manf.& Packaging Company	Lot 25 Courbane Park, Annandale, E.C.D
23	Alkaplus Wellness & Water Refilling	Lot 529 Section,’ A’ Block x, Diamond, E.B.D
24	White Rain Purified Water	Lot 69 Durban Street, Lodge, G/town
25	Sunny Ultra Pure	Lot 1 Sparta, Essequibo Coast
26	Natasha English	Lot 17 Obama Drive, Amelia’s Ward, Linden
27	Roxanna Summer	Lot 226 Mora Street, Mc Kenzie, Linden
28	Leed’s H20 Purified Water	Lot 30 5th Avenue, Bartica
29	Aqua-Tic Purified Water	Lot 48 First Avenue , Bartica
30	Juice Up Guyana	Lot 1237 West Minister, W.B.D