Executive members of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on Friday paid a site visit to the largest water treatment plant in Guyana, located at Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara.
IDB representatives taking a tour of the Diamond water treatment plant
The plant, which is about 70 per cent completed, will cost $1.9 billion. The project, however, which received funding from IDB in excess of US$31,600,000 is to construct three plants in three regions, including Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).
The plants in the other regions are also nearing completion, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Dr Richard Van-West Charles told Guyana Times in an interview.
The projects were initially to be completed by October 2019 but were given an extended deadline to December 2020. Construction began in December 2017, the CEO noted.
The massive plant is being constructed by the Chinese firm, Sino Hydro, and it was initially designed to be able to make use of both ground and surface water but eventually was constructed to treat groundwater only due to the costs attached.
According to Dr Charles, “As we have experienced from Shelter-Belt, Georgetown, Bartica and Linden, we have to import chemicals to treat surface water. There are some issues with cost plus there are also some issues with shipping and the reliability of the shipping to have the supplies in on a timely basis”.
In addition, he noted that an analysis was also conducted which found that over $20 million will be saved per annum with the groundwater option.
Once completed, the plant will benefit more than 20,000 residents in the area.
The plot of land which was mainly vegetation was transformed by first clearing the land and sand filling the area before works began. It is now able to treat iron contaminated water.
Facilities are now in place for aeration to take place. This is one way of treating water with large iron content. Iron is the element in water which causes bathrooms and washroom sinks to turn orange.
The huge tanks, built to facilitate aeration, will allow for the iron to oxidise which transforms it into a solid particle which then allows it to be removed.
The tanks are also built to facilitate settle which, as the name suggests, allows for the iron to settle, which is then filtered to remove remaining iron content.
Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan, who attended the activity on Friday, said this project is in keeping with the Government’s goals.
The project was initiated under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
