Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has resumed pumping water from the Kaituma River to supply residents after a four-week hiatus.
The utility company in early May had temporarily ceased pumping water from the river after dead fish were found floating in the river.
GWI’s Managing Director Dr. Richard Van-West Charles yesterday told Stabroek News that the decision was taken to resume use of the river water to supply residents in the area after toxicity tests returned negative.
In addition, Van-West Charles said that they are currently working to strengthen their distribution network in the community.
“At present, we are looking to strengthen our distribution network. We would have sent pipe lines into the community today for this upgrade of the distribution network,” he stated.
GWI’s Head of Water Quality Dr Deon Anderson previously said that the company took precautionary measures after receiving reports of the dead fishes floating in the river. “Samples have been collected for testing both locally and overseas and the results of these tests will determine the way forward,” he explained, before noting that the tests being conducted include toxicity tests for heavy metals and general pathogens.
Residents had told Stabroek News during a recent visit to the community that the water in the river became contaminated as a result of traditional fishing practices by indigenous people in the riverain areas.
The water supplied by GWI and pumped from the river is mainly used for domestic purposes, residents said.
“GWI is…working to drill additional wells so as to ensure groundwater is the main source of water supply for the community, as we seek to transition from extensive use of surface water,” Public Relations Officer Leana Bradshaw had said.
