The new Diamond Water Treatment Plant, now approximately 78% completed, is set to serve about 22,600 residents in the East Bank of Demerara community and surrounding areas.
This disclosure was made at a site visit to the treatment plant on Friday by Executive Directors and Board Members of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The IDB-funded project began in December of 2017 and is set to be completed by the end of this year.
Site consultant Richard Persaud, in a short briefing before the tour of the facility, stated that the project is set to be completed on time and within the original estimated budget, for which he thanked contractor Sinohydro.
According to the site consultant, when the construction began, the ground was very low and the contractor had to fill the land with approximately three feet of sand. The man stated that all of the major structures of the plant are completed and the pumps are in place. Persaud stated that the next step would be to set up the electrical wiring and panels in the facility.
“This plant is one of several plants. There are three plants to be constructed— one in Uitvlugt for 10 megalitres, one at Corentyne for eight megalitres and this one for 12 megalitres. The total population to be served by these three plants is in excess of 70,000 persons,” Persaud said.
The plant will be treating 12,000 cubic metres per day, Persaud stated, while noting that Guyana has abundant water resources. “We could drill wells anywhere on the coast and get a very good ground water supply. The only problem with that ground water supply is that it has iron in it. Historically people didn’t mind,” Persaud told the executives. He added that the main purpose of the treatment plants being constructed is the removal of the iron content from the water. One of the processes which will be used to rid the water of iron will be the aeration method.
Managing Director of Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) Dr Richard Van West-Charles stated that though the plant is 78% completed, with the purchase of the filter media, construction will move at a faster pace. “We were just having a discussion with the contractor and I think negotiations are already afoot for the purchase and shipment of the filter media, which will put us in a different place as we move forward, so we are happy with the progress that we have made,” the CEO said.
Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, who was present during the tour, stated that the project, which costs in excess of US$30 million, is consistent with the current administration’s mission to satisfy the needs of the citizenry. “There’s migration to this particular part of our country, so this facility will be able to meet the needs of the existing population and support the growing population as well,” Bulkan stated. The minister expressed gratitude on behalf of the government to the IDB for their support of the project. (Shamar Meusa)
