Gov’t beefing up water testing mechanisms at Shelter Belt to better serve G/town

In keeping with its commitment to provide clean and treated water to the general public, Government plans to beef up water testing mechanisms at the Guyana Water Incorporated’s (GWI’s) Shelter Belt network.
Approximately one month ago, hundreds of Georgetown residents were complaining of extremely poor water quality, with some indicating that their supply of the commodity was rusty and unhealthy for daily use. Preliminary investigation into the cause of this rust revealed that when the GWI had dredged the East Demerara Water Conservancy, the resultant buildup of sludge contaminated its Shelter Belt and resulted in distribution of the ‘rusty and unhealthy’ water.
Consequent to that discovery, GWI hired additional labour to clean the canals, while technicians in its laboratory conducted daily testing to monitor the quality of water being accessed.
Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal told Guyana Times on Wednesday that while the water quality in central Georgetown has been returned to a level of normalcy, funds would soon be allocated to increase the GWI testing capability in order to prevent any recurrence of this situation.
“We have conducted our own internal investigation or analysis as to what took place… We have constant testing, daily testing of the water and the turbidity of the water, (which) is done right here in this compound. But the important thing to do, moving forward now, is to ensure that we don’t ever have a repeat (of what had obtained), and to also have the warning signs. So, we will put measures in place that, if you have to update, if you notice when they do the reading of the turbidity of the water, that will determine the course of action that has to be taken,” Croal explained.

Annual cleaning
The high levels of sedimentation at GWI Shelter Belt canals were first recognised on July 15, but the situation was not so severe at the time. The water quality of the Shelter Belt plant would usually be around 15 to 20 units, but that occurrence had taken it up to 400 units. The plant is usually cleaned once a year; however, because of that situation, GWI has indicated that its team would begin cleaning the system every six to eight months.
Croal explained that the current issue is totally beyond the company’s control, and there is need for greater coordination between the East Demerara Water Conservancy and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority.
Since assuming office in August 2020, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration has been able to provide first-time access to potable and treated water services to more than 35,000 Guyanese. As a result, nearly 100 per cent of coastal residents now have access to clean water.