Despite the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) sending tankers of water to assist the residents of Diamond Housing Scheme and Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, persons are still forced to seek elsewhere for supplies.
The pump station at Diamond experienced problems last week and had starting spurting clay which resulted in the Diamond and Kaneville communities not being able to access water from the station. GWI had then issued a statement about the situation and stated that tanker trucks would be going around to the two areas delivering water to residents. After the trouble continued throughout the week with the pump, GWI Chief Executive Richard Van West-Charles had stated, through a press release, that due to the technical difficulties that were being experienced with the well station, a meeting was set up with several experts. The purpose of the meeting was to determine the next step towards a solution.
While there were reports in the media yesterday that residents were able to access water again, Stabroek News was told by many residents of Diamond that the claims were untrue as they were still unable to get water.
“I don’t know who said that or who they talked to but it is false at best. If you go look at the well right now it’s not working and there is still clay spread out all over,” a resident said yesterday, adding that he has not seen any of the GWI workers over the weekend.
The resident expressed concerns about prospects for the well. “I’m not sure, to be honest I don’t even think they can do anything to the well to make it work again. I am not expert but I know a little and from the looks of it I don’t think they can save that well,” he contended.
“You know I hearing about this tanker that supposed to bring water but I ain’t see anything up to now? Look how long this problem deh and I still ain’t see no tanker come through here bringing any water,” a resident of 8th Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme told Stabroek News yesterday. He said that while he is forced to use water very sparingly, he is still optimistic that GWI can fix the well or find some other alternative to provide the area with water again.
“I know I see them man were working tirelessly during the week trying to fix the thing but it look real bad and I just hoping that they fix it soon or find some other way cause it’s real bad. Maybe they can let us access water from another source like Grove or something,” he suggested.
Other residents also questioned whether the schedule of the tanker was suitable as they said that during those hours most persons are not home. GWI had stated that water will be delivered via tankers to the Diamond Housing Scheme and Kaneville according to the following schedule: Diamond Housing Scheme: 9:00 hours – 20:00 hours from 21st Avenue to 1st Avenue and Kaneville from 17:00 hours – 20:00hours – ‘Middle Road’ Kaneville.
“First off, most people leave their houses for work in this area since 7 or before. Why they delivering water from 9? That don’t make no sense. I haven’t seen any tanker since and I made special efforts to come home before 8 and I still didn’t see it,” another resident of Sixth Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme said. “A day like today they should be going around. On the weekends they should be going around with the tankers when people will be home but I deh here whole day and I ain’t see one thing,” she added.
While residents closer to the road are not getting water at all, some farther away are getting some.
“I was getting lil this morning. Nothing significant, it was a little and it stopped like couple hours after so I don’t know,” a resident of 21st Avenue said yesterday, stating that while he is not depending on the well to be fixed soon he goes to his relatives in another village to stock up on water.
