The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) says it is advancing interventions to ensure better water distribution and sanitation systems in Kwakwani, Region 10, where more than 7,000 persons would stand to benefit from improved services.
A press release from GWI said its Chief Executive Officer, Shaik Baksh, led a technical team on a site assessment in the community over the weekend where he inspected the water treatment plant and storage facilities and held discussions with the Kwakwani Utilities Incorporated (KUI). GWI said its team also visited several areas where it is leading infrastructural upgrades to the sanitation network as part of the Caribbean Regional Fund for Wastewater Management+ Guyana Project (CReW+). Approximately $35 million is being invested in Kwakwani under this project.
KUI, a subsidiary of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited, is responsible for managing Kwakwani’s main utility services including water and sanitation. KUI’s General Manager, Winston Rozario and staff updated the GWI personnel on challenges with water supply and distribution, including blockages in the system that contribute to low water levels in some areas. Currently, water is supplied to residents for three hours every morning and afternoon. GWI says KUI requested its support to improve these services.
According to GWI, Baksh noted his satisfaction with the existing water treatment and storage system, the environmental upkeep of the facilities and the existence of a good water source, which are key for continued service. Baksh assured that GWI, based on its evaluation, will develop an improvement programme to support Kwakwani’s water quality and supply. However, Baksh emphasized the need for data on the distribution network so GWI’s technical personnel can comprehensively evaluate the needs and identify solutions. Data is required on production, storage and consumption. The GWI and KUI teams also agreed on the need for greater public awareness on water conservation and storage especially since the community is supplied with non-revenue water.
With regards to sanitation, the CReW project is almost 75% complete in Kwakwani with activities such as the clearing of blockages in the more than 70-year-old sewerage network, upgrades to damaged chambers, repairs and/or construction of seven septic tanks and adding of tertiary treatment to remove pathogens from the waste. Additionally, the project will support the community’s secondary school to upgrade its waste-to-energy facility enabling the students to continue using pig manure to produce cooking gas for their home economics classes. The project was awarded to local contractor, Sachia Jones Construction and Supplies Services of Kwakwani.
