The Guyana Water Incorpora-ted (GWI) is undertaking a pilot survey in several villages across the three counties aimed at reducing instances of water lost through leaks and wastage.
In a press release, GWI Head of Field Services Sunlidat Barran said non-revenue water can be placed under two categories: technical and commercial losses. Technical losses occur when water is lost through breakages and leaks in GWI’s distribution system as well as wastage by customers. Commercial losses encompass incorrect meter readings, billing inaccuracies as well as inaccurate customer information.
“We intend to correct all these obstacles through the pilot survey,” Barran said, adding that this will be done through visits to customers’ homes to verify their account information and to ensure that meters are providing accurate readings.
The survey will be executed in several areas including sections of East Berbice; Cotton Tree, West Berbice; Cane Grove, east Coast Demerara; Silver Town, Linden; Goed Fortuin, West Demerara and Lima, Essequibo. After the results have been tabulated, GWI will expand the assessment to other areas.
According to Barran another objective of the pilot study is to determine the actual value of non-revenue water in particular pilot study areas, since GWI depends heavily on estimated figures for water lost via wastage and leaks. “This study will assist us by providing real-time data to calculate the actual amount of non-revenue water in the pilot areas identified…” Barran said.
He noted that the intention is to reconcile the service that customers are receiving with what GWI is producing via its various water production sites, including well stations and water treatment facilities.
Barran expects that one of the immediate outcomes of the survey is that customers will benefit from improved service.
“This includes more accurate account information, reliable and efficient billing as well as the reduction of leaks,” the release said.
