Improved water delivery receives $4.9 billion in Budget 2022

In its continued effort to expand potable water coverage and improve water supply infrastructure
nationwide, the government has budgeted the sum of $4.9B to the Housing and Water Ministry.
Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh in presenting the national budget on Wednesday, said
emphasis will be placed on improved access, enhanced quality of service and on reducing non-
revenue water, in keeping with the Guyana Water Incorporated’s (GWI) strategic plan for 2021-
2025.
Potable water access
The finance minister explained that the distribution of clean water to unserved and underserved
communities is a priority of the PPP/C Government. As such, he disclosed that several
interventions were executed including the drilling and construction of new wells at Lusignan and
Wakenaam, while the upgrade and expansion of St. Cuthbert’s Mission water supply system was
completed and is servicing 700 residents. He said that the drilling of the new wells located at
Chesney and Parika will be completed during the first half of 2022.  Dr. Singh noted that in
2021, an old well at Parika Backdam that was inoperable for 16 years was rehabilitated and is
now providing improved water supply to 15,000 residents who he said will be receiving a 24-
hour supply of water at a height of over 14 feet.
He noted that to increase coverage and provide first time access to potable water, several
projects were completed in areas including Nismes, Stanleytown, Patentia, Hydronie and Parika
Backdam in Region Three; Relief, Yarrowkabra, Grand Sand Road, Success, Bachelor’s
Adventure, Unity, Dora, Kuru Kururu, Kairuni and Swan in Region Four; Brahn, Britannia,
Number  28, 29 and 30 Villages, Weldaad, Big Biabu and Good Faith in Region Five; Alness,
Number 61 and 64 Villages and Crabwood Creek in Region Six. Additionally, he disclosed that
a sum of $410.7M was expended in 2021 to increase access and improve the water supply
systems in several hinterland communities. Works were completed at Katoonarib, Toka,
Potarinau, and St. Ignatius in Region Nine; as well as Kamarang and Jawalla in Region Seven,
benefitting over 3,000 residents in both Regions. Residents of Chiung Mouth, Region Eight, also
accessed potable water for the first time.
$394.5M in 2022, has been budgeted under the Hinterland Water Supply Programme for new
water supply systems at Phillipai, Isseneru, Warwatta and Tasserene in Region Seven, Itabac in
Region Eight, as well as Yakarinta and Katoka in Region Nine. Dr. Singh said it is estimated that
70 percent of the hinterland communities will have access to potable water by the end of 2022.
Improving water quality
The provision of $47M was provided in 2021 for the expansion of water treatment plants at
Covent Garden, Grove, Friendship and Vergenoegen to enhance the quality of water to residents
and businesses. He said that the expansion of the Sophia and Eccles water treatment plants is
expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2022. “Given the interventions planned for

2022, it is estimated that potable water coverage for the coastland will increase from 96 percent
to 98 percent,” Minister Singh said.
Reducing Non-Revenue Water
A total of 15,340 water meters were installed in 2021 to new and existing service connections to
reduce non-revenue water, with 20,000 metres planned for installation in 2022. Dr. Singh said,
will reduce water losses from 67 per cent to 64 per cent by the end of the year. Further, the
upgrading of the transmission lines between Shelterbelt and Lamaha Street, Kitty, was completed
including the transfer of 284 service connections from the old network to the new network, as
well as the reinstatement of the carriageway to the benefit of approximately 40,000 residents.
Furthermore, the old existing cast iron transmission main will be replaced with new high density
polyethylene pipes between Shelterbelt and Water Street to benefit approximately 100,000
people.