$3.6B Caledonia Water Treatment Plant 80% complete

Government is pushing ahead to deliver on its promise of 90 per cent treated water for all coastal residents by 2025 as work advances on the $3.6 billion Caledonia, East Bank Demerara (EBD) water treatment plant.
The scope of the work includes resuscitation of the old storage tank, construction of a new storage plant, pump room and three filter systems, creation of a chlorine room and a room for blowers, and the drilling of a new well.
Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal told Guyana Times on Friday that the project was about 80 per cent complete and would be commissioned by the end of October.
Additionally, he disclosed that the new well, which is within close proximity to the water treatment plant, is 90 per cent complete.
“So, obviously we also drill wells to be able to supply the treatment plants so that you can have a reliable supply. And so, areas such as Good Success; Craig; Garden of Eden; Land of Canaan; Caledonia, of course, those are the areas that are benefiting from this treatment plant. And then all of the persons in that vicinity, when this plant comes into being, will be getting treated water to their house.”
“The significance is that the well will be used to be the source for the treatment plant so that we can have the output that is desired…,” Croal disclosed.

When completed, the plant, which is being constructed by Sigma Engineering Limited, will serve over 18,000 residents of New Hope, Friendship, Garden of Eden, Supply, Relief, Support, Land of Canaan, Coverden, Pearl, Caledonia and Soesdyke.
Moreover, Croal explained that the Caledonia plant would complement the Covent Garden well, which was completed this month and is serving over 10,000 persons.
“The Covent Garden well, that is complete now, and in Covent Garden, what we’re dealing with right now is the enhancement on the distribution, because some of the areas previously that were not getting it within the Little Diamond area now is getting water. So, we’re dealing with a lot of leakages though, because we have some that are first-time access, especially in our housing areas or where we have built our houses. So, the Covent Garden (well) is operational and work is currently being done to ensure that all the residents who are going to get from that well are able to be supplied. There’s another well that is being done at Grove, that is currently in progress,” he added.
The contract for the Caledonia water treatment plant, along with six others, was signed in October 2023 to the tune of $8.5 billion.
The government has been making several interventions to ensure that citizens can easily access treated water across the country, and the construction of these plants is being done under the Coastal Water Treatment Programme, which is being monitored by the Guyana Water Inc (GWI).
To support these efforts, new wells are being developed and inline filters are being installed at 15 smaller existing plants.