The Guyana Water Incor-porated (GWI) says it found over 10 illegal water service connections at Sarah Johanna some of which were submerged in a trench that contained sewage from a leaking latrine.
GWI Director of Operations Joseph Codette said last week some concerned villagers alerted the company of the illegal connections which were installed at several homes. “What is alarming is that some of the connections are submerged in a trench in which raw sewage is leaking from a nearby latrine,” he said.
Codette said this situation could have dire consequences on the health of all the residents in the community as “If the raw sewage enters the lines it would lead to contamination of the entire distribution system that serves the community.” GWI is appealing to all residents with illegal connections to desist from this practice immediately and avoid the health consequences.
The company said too it will prosecute any person who installs an illegal water service connection, in accordance with the Water and Sewage Act 2002. Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali said the company will not tolerate persons with illegal water connections as they “endanger the health of our customers.” He also noted that the cost to install a new service connection is nominal – $1,000 – as it is heavily subsidized by the government.
According to the release, residents with the illegal connections were warned to desist from this practice and the connections were removed.
The company also advises consumers with illegal connections to visit its offices to regularise their service. Persons can also contact GWI’s Customer Service Call Centre on telephone number 227-8701 for assistance in this regard. Further, the procedure for applying for a new water service connection can be found at the company’s website located at www.gwiguyana.com or via its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/everydropcounts.
