250 Great Falls residents now enjoying cleaner, safer water

Some 250 residents of Great Falls, Region Ten (Upper Demerara- Upper Berbice), are now turning on their taps to access clean, reliable water, following the commissioning of an upgraded water supply system in the community.
The facility was officially brought into operation on Friday during a simple but significant ceremony led by Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar.
The $15 million upgrade to the Great Falls Water Supply System was extensive, as it included the development of the existing well, the installation of a new photovoltaic pumping system, and rehabilitation works at both the well and the trestle site.
With the new system in place, approximately 95 per cent of the village now receives water directly to their homes. The remaining five per cent of residents continue to access potable water from standpipes located along the river banks.
The new level of service has brought particular relief to key public institutions in the village, including the primary school and the health centre, where personnel can now count on a steady supply of water to support their daily operations.
Village Toshao Sydney Allicock stressed how critical the intervention has been for the community, recalling that residents previously depended on river water that had become unsafe as a result of intense mining activity in the area.
“We are thankful to the government because they have provided this well. If we did not have this well, we would’ve had outbreaks of many sicknesses and diseases in this area,” the Toshao shared, noting that the improved system has removed a major health threat from the lives of villagers.
Minister Indar pointed out that the delivery of safe, drinkable water to Great Falls forms part of the government’s wider commitment to narrowing the gap between coastland and hinterland communities, with a clear goal of achieving 100 per cent access to potable water across Guyana.
“This is about making sure that we deliver to people in the hinterland community, access to water that they can use to cook and drink,” he stressed.
He further explained that this kind of direct investment reflects the PPP/C administration’s hands-on style of governance, which is grounded in staying close to citizens and ensuring that government services translate into real, tangible improvements in their daily lives.
According to the minister, this approach is very much in keeping with the philosophy of President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali.
“The heart of the President is with the poor people. He’s always meeting people trying to find ways and means for his government to help people and to bring government services to people,” he added.
The intervention at Great Falls, Minister Indar noted, is yet another signal that the government recognises access to potable water as a fundamental right, and remains firm in its resolve to make that right a reality for citizens in every part of the country.
The minister was joined at the commissioning by Director-General of the Public Utilities Ministry, Alfonso De Armas, GWI Hinterland Services Director, Ramchand Jailal, GWI Regional Manager, Rawle Friday, as well as other regional officials and technical staff.
This commissioning came just after a new $30 million water supply system was commissioned at Silver Hill along the Soesdyke, Linden Highway, bringing a major improvement to daily life after decades of reliance on creek water.
The project, which includes a newly drilled well, a solar-powered pumping system, and about three kilometres of distribution lines, now delivers clean, safe water to roughly 90 percent of households. The remaining residents access water through standpipes placed around the community.
Villagers say the system has ended years of hardship and is transforming routines, with easier access to water for drinking, cooking, hygiene, and small-scale farming. Community members also took part in laying the network, adding a sense of pride and ownership.