$1.5B La Parfaite Harmonie Water Plant to deliver safe supply to 36,000 residents

More than 36,000 residents across La Parfaite Harmonie and surrounding communities will now benefit from a reliable supply of safe, treated water, following the commissioning of the $1.5 billion La Parfaite Harmonie Water Treatment Plant on Friday by President Irfaan Ali, who was joined by Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water Susan Rodrigues. The modern facility will serve households in Canal No. 1, Schoonord, Westminster, Lust-en-Rust, Onderneeming, La Grange, Bagotville and nearby villages, delivering potable water that meets World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.

It is the fifth such plant constructed under the Government’s ongoing programme to expand access to treated water countrywide. Delivering the feature address at Friday’s commissioning ceremony, Minister Rodrigues, reading President Ali’s speech at the event, described the opening as a “historic milestone” for the community and the wider region. “Do you remember? At that time, the water sector was in shambles. Access to safe water was only 50 per cent and of the water produced, half was lost to leakage and wastage,” she said. “The infrastructure was porous, decrepit, unreliable. Was this acceptable for a people who deserve the best? No. We inherited a crisis and turned it into a success story,” she declared.
The Minister pointed out that many families in the area were forced to contend with discoloured water and high iron content that stained tanks, buckets, and bathroom walls. That, however, she said, is changing.

“By the end of this year, more than 90 per cent of the population will have access to treated water,” Rodrigues affirmed. “This treatment plant tells the people of this community that they matter. It tells the people of Guyana that no community will be left behind.” She underscored that safe water is not only about convenience but also about public health and prosperity. “Every glass of clean water is a dose of prevention,” Rodrigues said. “By ensuring safe, treated and reliable water, we are not just providing a service, we are protecting lives. Water is also the hidden engine of economic growth.” Once considered unsuitable swampland, La Parfaite Harmonie has transformed into a thriving community through strategic housing and infrastructure development.
In the past two years, over 4000 service connections have been installed by Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), bringing first-time access to clean water for families in Clarke Dam, Belle West, and Parika backdam. “These things are not promises, [they are] results,” Rodrigues stressed. “From 2020 to now, we have been working for you and delivering on our commitments.”

Meanwhile, Minister Rodrigues highlighted the strides made in expanding access to water nationwide. “Today, some 98.3 per cent of our country has access to water. And by the end of this year, we expect universal access to safe water. Can any nation ask for more than that? From scarcity to universality, this is transformation,” she said. Turning her attention to riverine and hinterland communities, the Minister noted that these areas, once largely neglected, have seen remarkable improvements. “In 2020, only 46 per cent of those communities had access to safe water. Today, that number has leaped to 91 per cent. And by the end of next year, it will be 100 per cent. From rust and stains to clean, clear streams – that is progress you can see,” Rodrigues asserted. She added that the new La Parfaite Harmonie facility represents more than just infrastructure. “This plant is not only about pipes and filters. It is about dignity, development and a better quality of life for every family it serves.” The Minister noted that Region Three’s water sector has received more than $8.8 billion in investments since the Government took office, benefitting some 89,000 people. Nationally, over $65 billion has been invested in expanding access and improving quality. Meanwhile, two new water treatment plants are under construction in Leguan and Wakenaam at a combined cost of $1.53 billion.