Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) yesterday said that it discovered in excess of 3000 used condoms which caused a massive blockage at the corner of Sixth and Light streets Alberttown on Wednesday.
A statement from GWI yesterday said that responding to several complaints of sewage overflows, GWI’s sanitation team discovered an overflowing manhole at Albert Street. “The sewage was practically gushing,” stated Sanitation Supervisor, GWI, Wayne Langford, “immediately we noticed a number of articles including clothes, concrete, and a significant amount of condoms amongst the sewage”.
Langford further explained that GWI was then required to conduct a lengthy exercise to locate the source of the blockage underground. “We were fortunate enough to locate the huge blockage below Sixth and Light Streets before sunset,” stated Langford, “it was then that we noticed an enormous amount of condoms which clogged the system and affected the operations of the sensitive devices used to pump the sewage out of the city.”
According to the statement, the supervisor revealed that the removal of the blockage required more than two hours of work by GWI’s Sanitation team. “The debris was so large in number that the entire team was called in to remove the massive amount of condoms – my team counted over 3000,” stated Langford, “even the residents looking on were stunned to see the amount of condoms found in the blockage. This situation is unacceptable since we have been appealing to residents to desist from flushing anything but human waste through their toilets.” He further explained that it is a common occurrence to find large numbers of condoms at city hotels which experience sewage overflows, however the over 3000 condoms found at the Sixth and Light Street blockage is the largest on record”, the statement added.
Langford said that the overflows which resulted from the consistent flushing of condoms affected a pregnant woman in Albert Street and caused her to become ill.
GWI says it has consistently educated residents of Georgetown about the damage caused by dumping garbage into the sewerage system via its weekly television broadcast, radio advisories and community outreach programmes. Chief Executive (a.g) Nigel Niles said GWI will seek legal action against all customers found guilty of dumping garbage into the sewerage system.
To report abuse customers can call 227-8701, e-mail: customercallcentre@gwi.gy or send images to GWI’s Facebook page available at www.facebook.com/everydropcounts.
