GWI survey shows persons illegally reconnect water

A recent survey conducted by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has found that a massive 60 per cent of some 700 sample residents in Georgetown illegally reconnected their water supply after being disconnected.
The GWI, in a release to the media on Thursday, sought to highlight the major issue while noting that plans are afoot to intensify its disconnection and service removal campaign, in a bid to focus on customers who are determined to illegally reconnect their service.
The water company explained that of the sample population of 700 Georgetown customers surveyed, 60 per cent have illegally reconnected their water service after being disconnected for overdue balances, thus the utility has intensified its disconnection and service removal campaign across the capital city with a particular focus on those customers who have illegally reconnected their service.
According to the GWI, most of the customers who would have indulged in the illegal act are domestic customers.
According to GWI, its customers are given 28 days after their bill is due to clear their balance, or utilise the option of taking advantage of the utility’s wallet-friendly payment plans.
If they fail to do so, their service is disconnected, but they are given an additional 28 days to pay their reconnection fee before their service is removed. The cost for reconnection for domestic customers is $7,500, and for commercial customers$16,000; whereas the replacement fee for both categories is $20,000.
It has been pointed out that GWI targets all categories of indebted customers, irrespective of whether they are domestic or commercial.