Dear Editor,
I am still at a loss as to how the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) can give estimated water consumption for metered consumers. Why does GWI attach meters and still give (over)estimated readings? What then is the use of the meters?
Recently, my father and sister had their water supply disconnected for non-payment of water bills. In December of last year they were told that they owed GWI $19,000. Lo and behold, the disconnection crew turned up on March 17 and told them they they owed $181,000 and then proceeded to disconnect the supply. The crew told my relatives that the meter reading of 00954.618 is different from the ‘figure reading’ on the receipt. I am still trying to figure out exactly the mysterious numeracy of a ‘figure reading’ and why it should differ from the meter reading. Commonsense would dictate that actual meter readings should be reflected on the water bills, as the Guyana Power and Light sensibly does for its meter readings and electricity bills. Perhaps something other than commonsense is at work at GWI. If there is a conversion factor that GWI uses to convert meter readings to the ‘figure readings’, then it should clearly explain it to the public. Can GWI justify the fantastic estimated readings and high bills it sends to consumers in the light of the fact that consumers do not get a 24-hour water supply – it varies unpredictably from 8-12 hours or even less? Do GWI personnel know how to measure and calculate water variables and quantities? It is not political science or economics; it is basic elementary mathematics that a primary school child can do.
A month ago I telephoned GWI and found out from a very helpful and courteous female voice that the meter readings are in cubic metres. Below is a photograph of my relatives’ water meter on March 17 showing a reading of 954.618 cubic metres. The meter was attached for about five years, so the consumption from then to now seems reasonable. One cubic metre is not a small amount of water as some might think; it is equivalent to 4.5 barrels or 220 gallons. (See my SN letter of February 16, 2008 for more details on the calculations and the utter unreasonableness of GWI’s overestimation.)
GWI needs to put its own house in order before it tries to put the houses of consumers in order. Or is it trying to force domestic consumers to foot the water bills for government agencies and institutions? Something is oxidised at GWI and it’s not the meters.
Yours faithfully,
M. Xiu Quan-Balgobind-Hackett
