Dear Editor,
It is not normal that I respond to comments about the municipality because I have the view that presentations are made by the Council and that others may see things differently and residents can judge which they wish to accept or reject. People should be free to express opinions provided it is not bent on denigration of persons. Now, I have seen the letter from Frank Fyffe on the water situation at Linden, in which he alluded to the high incidence of typhoid-like symptoms demonstrated by residents. This upsurge, I add, has come over the last year or so. Fyffe further mentioned that the municipality did put out advisories to boil water for potable uses.
Then came the response from the GWI, a few days later claiming that the water in Linden was all clear for taking a cupful from the tap and putting it to our faces and drinking. In that response too there was a slightly concealed, snide output which questioned the municipality’s response to the water situation in Linden, by way of the advisory. The Linden Town Council has statutory responsibility for Public Health matters within the Town, which include water sanitation. The IMC has received several complaints over the years from citizens and wondered about our capacity to deal with the problem. On a monthly basis samples are taken and sent to the Government Analyst, Food and Drugs Department for testing. Microbiological testing is done there and they report back on the quality of the water samples taken in a formal way. No less than the Deputy Director of the Food and Drug Department signs the document, under the entity’s letterhead and seal. I am obligated to honour, respect and follow through under such circumstances and with the simple science of “cause and effect” the results have encapsulated and vindicated the output from this department, thus far. I am therefore saying that there is no reason for me to doubt the integrity of the findings of this department.
Further, the municipality did engage a high profile team from GWI over a year ago, including Ms Jettoo, who is responsible for scientific matters relating to water quality, Mr. Austin, responsible for making people aware of the workings of GWI and other more senior personnel. At that meeting the Council made it clear that we had a duty to protect the citizens and we see working closely with GWI, as a way in getting this done. We told the GWI team about the many unsatisfactory samples we have collected and not had any change in quality of the water. They questioned our sampling methodology and we agreed to sample together. They pointed out that the pipes in Linden were severely corroded, lumen reduced considerably due to sedimentation and that seepage from outside was possible. We wanted to know about the positive pressure in the line allowing flow into the broken line, as well as dilution factor.
These issues were not answered satisfactorily but we agreed to the programme to have the conduits changed to PVC and sample together. When the results from the “sampling together” were submitted to GWI’s local office here, it was met with intransigence and some level of denial. We were told that the results from GWI’s lab were not available and that the matter was engaging the attention of the “central office”. We then wrote the Minister of Health seeking his intervention. There was no response. After waiting and getting no tangible response to the residents’ concerns, we were then put in a position to advise the public about the quality of the water and how to deal with it. Just about that time, GWI was issuing an advisory as well on the water quality here in Linden.
Did I mention that GWI has broken our roads in the new lines installation, but the quality of repair is highly questionable? Yes man, they have broken the new roads at Purpleheart and Greenheart streets, as well as the road leading to Wismar – Mackenzie bridge as a few of the many broken roads that have not been repaired properly. People have accepted this to some degree because both utilities are essential but they prefer water as that is absolutely essential.
To elucidate the plight, there are three water treatment plants in Wismar and three in Mackenzie. All the plants in Wismar use surface water with Burnham Drive and West Watooka using the Demerara River as the source of water. The third plant in Wismar takes water from the Dacoura Creek (clear water) in the Wisrock area. In Mackenzie the Mackenzie Plant (Bridge) and the Alumina Plant take water from the Demerara river. The plant in Amelia’s Ward sources water from underground (well). Due to these high surface water usages one would expect treatment to be at an optimal level, particularly those taking water from the Demerara river. There have been some disturbing results which need further investigation. We have noted with alarm the repeated unsatisfactory quality from Amelia’s Ward. The reason for the alarm is that the lines are predominantly PVC, the water is from underground aquifers and one expects the lowest level of contamination. With use of chlorine, the situation should be a bonus. Here is a table of the results:
Sample periods Places Results Remarks
June Linden Power Co. Satisfactory These places were
Mackenzie High School Satisfactory supplied by LPC.
Oronoque Drive Satisfactory
Amelia’s Ward Most unsatisfactory Supplied by A/Ward
Amelia’s Ward Standpipe Unsatisfactory plant
A/Ward Hopetown Sq Very unsatisfactory)
July Block 22 One Mile Most unsatisfactory
Half Mile Most unsatisfactory
A/Ward/Hopetown Sq. Unsatisfactory
Amelia’s Ward Unsatisfactory
South Amelia’s Ward Unsatisfactory
Unsatisfactory
August Wismar Hill School Most unsatisfactory
Silvertown Grossly unsatisfactory
Silver City Grossly unsatisfactory
Section ‘B’ Christianburg Very unsatisfactory
Section ‘C Christianburg Most unsatisfactory
West Watooka Satisfactory
The classification ‘unsatisfactory’ says that the bacterial load in the water for fecal coli forms and E. Coli would be too numerous to count and was above the allowable limit of 3 Coli form Organisms per 100 ml of sample.
It is therefore no secret that residents are correlating this state of the water with the current symptoms resembling typhoid. As I mentioned earlier some prominent citizens of Linden told me about their experiences with the problem. One business woman implored us to do something about it because she spent in excess of $135,000.00 in tests and medication in Linden and Georgetown and wondered if the average citizen could find that type of money to take care of his family who may come down with the illness. One of my Councillors reported that a member of her family came down with the symptoms and she counted dozens at the Linden Hospital Complex similarly affected. At the same time I was informed that the Regional Executive Officer was affected by similar symptoms. The business woman told me that she was delirious and suffered memory lapses.
In conclusion I am positing that GWI discusses the issue at a public forum in Linden so that they can obtain a good feel of how people view the water supply they have been getting over the past 2 years or thereabout. The Municipality has tried and done what was in its power to bring the situation to the attention of the authorities for corrective action. Similarly, when this was proving futile, the municipality alerted the residents to its findings and for them to take precaution.
Yours faithfully,
Orrin Gordon
IMC Chairman
