GWI begins pipe replacement works in sections of G/town

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has started replacing transmission mains along the Avenue of the Republic and High Street.
This is part of the Georgetown Transmission Replacement Programme through which the Government of Guyana is investing $1 billion to improve the water supply network in the city. GWI is replacing pipelines in a transmission network that was built between 1920 to 1960.
GWI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaik Baksh noted the importance of the project considering the age-old transmission mains are subjected to constant breakage and leaks, which are costly to repair. The pipelines are unable to withstand high water pressure and vibration due to traffic load.
“We have to replace a lot of these pipelines because there are a lot of water losses, what we call Non-Revenue Water (NRW) losses in Georgetown and it’s impacting on the level of service. There are huge leakages around the city and no matter how much water we pump through the system, a lot of it is being lost contributing to the low level of service,” Baksh explained.
The work would be executed in two lots. Lot 2 caters for the section along the Avenue of the Republic between Hadfield and Church Street, while Lot 3 focuses on the area along High Street between Hadfield and Broad Street. Each lot is expected to be completed in six months and is being executed by C&L Construction Inc.
Meanwhile, GWI continues to engage and consult with all stakeholders including residents, businesses, members of the public and sectoral agencies that are expected to experience some disruption due to the ongoing works.