First half of the year saw $1.6B being spent to improve water supply countrywide

The Housing and Water Ministry through  the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has spent $1.6
B of its allocated $4 B, to improve access to potable water countrywide, during the first half of
this year.
This is according to Minister Collin Croal, who said the distribution of clean water to unserved
and underserved communities, is a priority of the Government. He said this has led to the
ministry reforming GWI to ensure treated water services are provided to citizens on the coast and
hinterland regions.  “Delivery of safe water to communities is a priority for the PPP/C
government, to enhance the livelihood of Guyanese, irrespective of their geographical location,”
he said.
Croal said that only 52 per cent of the country’s population currently receives treated water,
which GWI hopes to increase to at least 95 per cent. This approach, he said is in keeping with
Goal Six of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which speaks to the availability and
sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Croal said that GWI will install 20,000
meters in residential and business areas to reduce losses of its non-revenue water by growing its
billed volume from 2,600,000 cubic meters to 3,300,000 cubic meters per month, by year-end.
He noted that about 20,000 residents are set to benefit from increased water supply following the
upgrade of the Sophia and Eccles water treatment plants. “Water production facilities will be
rehabilitated at Eccles and a new storage tank will be activated at Sophia to increase the storage
capacity from 2,500 cubic meters to 5,100 cubic meters. Works on a new water main at Bartica
was completed, benefiting 8,000 residents and improving production capacity,” Croal said. He
added, “Further, the expansion of Covent Garden, Grove, Friendship and Vergenoegen water
treatment plants will commence in the third quarter to benefit approximately 30,000 residents.”
The housing and water minister pointed out that rehabilitation works are also being undertaken
on the transmission and distribution networks at Vlissengen Road and Newtown Kitty which will
see 2,500 residents benefitting. He said that as it relates to hinterland communities, his ministry
spent $148 M during the first half of the year, to complete expansion works on water springs at
Mabaruma, Barabina and Wainaina. This includes the installation of electric motor driven pumps
at Mabaruma and Barabina.
He noted that residents are now able to access potable water for nine hours compared to the four
hours per day previously. Croal said that earlier this year, the ministry saw the completion of
new wells at Port Kaituma and Oronoque in Region One. New wells will also be drilled at
Baramita, Arakaka, Matthews Ridge, Khan’s Hill, Wauna, Kwebanna, Huradiah, Waramuri and
Manawarin in Region One, using the same model as the one existing in Region Nine.
Additionally, further works were also set for the upgrade of water supply systems at Jawalla and
Kamarang in Region Seven; Monkey Mountain, Taruka and Kaibarupai in Region Eight; and
Annai and St. Ignatius in Region Nine.