Georgetown: Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Chief Executive, Dr. Van West-Charles visited the community of Mahdia, Region 8, Potaro-Siparuni last week to address the challenges being faced by the Regional Administration with regard to water supply.
The GWI Chief Executive was accompanied by senior GWI management including Executive Director of GWI’s Infrastructure, Planning and Implementation Department (IPID), Ramchand Jailal. During a visit to the Campbelltown community, the team from GWI observed that the community required a new electrical pump for the facility which supplied the area with water. According to the Director of IPID, ‘GWI will be collaborating with the Regional Administration within the next 10 days to replace the pump. In addition, GWI will assist with the extension of the water supply mains to sections of the community in order to improve the level of service’.
Further, GWI and the Regional Administration agreed to collaborate on the repair of the transmission main within the area which had signs of damage in several areas, causing low levels of service within Mahdia. The GWI team also observed that the flow of the Salbora Creek, a key source of water within Mahdia, was below the normal level. ‘There were several leaks observed along the catchment area,’ stated the Director of IPID, ‘this caused the accessible volume of water to be reduced. We will be working along with the Regional Authorities to explore solutions’.
During the visit, Dr. Van West-Charles warned of the impact of mining within the area which can cause damage to the water supply infrastructure. ‘We have observed several sections of the transmission mains in areas used for mining,’ stated the Chief Executive, ‘these mains are at risk of being damaged due to mining activities which would directly affect the water service supplied to Mahdia. Should the infrastructure be compromised due to mining, GWI will collaborate with the Regional Administration to take swift action against the parties responsible through the relevant authorities’.
During the discussion with the GWI Chief Executive, Regional Executive Officer, Rafel Downes stated that ‘the Region is fully supportive of GWI commencing works to ensure that water is restored within the community and the system is managed efficiently’. Dr. Van West-Charles indicated that a team of engineers from GWI will remain in Mahdia to assess all urgent remedial works including repairs to be undertaken in the Salbora Creek area as well as works to be executed on the transmission/distribution system. The GWI CEO also stated that GWI will appoint an officer, recommended by the Region, to provide daily operation, maintenance and management of the water supply system in Mahdia.
‘The company will also commence exploring the drilling of a new well for Mahdia,’ stated Dr. Van West-Charles, ‘with the aim of providing alternative water supply to the community including Campbelltown. GWI will also develop a long term water development plan to address all the water supply needs of Mahdia and surrounding communities in Region 8’. GWI also plans to install a reservoir in 2016 to improve the performance of the water supply system.
‘A long term plan is needed to ensure that we rise above all the current challenges and that residents of Mahdia are not without water for long periods,’ stated the GWI Chief Executive, ‘our objective is to collaborate with the Regional Administration towards achieving a highly efficient water supply infrastructure’.
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