GWI working to improve Georgetown’s water quality

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) on Friday said continuous measures are being put in place to improve the quality of water it provides to residents in Georgetown and the coast.
Managing Director of GWI, Dr Richard Van West-Charles, made this observation and noted that the utility company is implementing measures to ensure equitable access to quality water.
According to Dr Van West-Charles, there is the tendency of some persons to think that Georgetown communities are being neglected because of the immense focus

being given to hinterland communities. He stressed that this is not the case.
Much emphasis has been placed on providing, in all of the regions, water which corresponds to the standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Delivering his presentation on water treatment and water quality monitoring in Georgetown, GWI’s Head of Water Quality, Deon Anderson, highlighted that Georgetown’s miniature laboratory runs on a 24/7 basis, and water is tested every hour. An analysis is also conducted from all treatment stages and strategic points in various areas of the capital city.
At the Shelter Belt treatment plant, water distribution has increased by seven hours, from 17 hours to 24 hours’ supply, and the supply pressure has been doubled from 10 pounds per square inch (PSI) to 20 pounds PSI.
Additionally, the pump stations located at Festival City, North Ruimveldt; Kingston in Georgetown, and Turkeyen and Industry on the East Coast Demerara have seen an extended water supply period of 24 hours.
While concentrating his attention on the Sophia water treatment plant, Anderson said a range of treatment processes has been used by GWI to assist in the iron removal deficiency, which was once poor and contributing towards the supply of aesthetically unpleasant water. These interventions included the optimization of the lime dosage, Potential of Hydrogen (pH) addition of pall rings to aerators, and the optimization of depth of the filter media.
Presently, the Sophia treatment plant is now consistently meeting the WHO required standards and guidelines in regard to pH, turbidity, and iron.
In addition to improving the treatment of water, the company has also partnered with the Education Ministry to provide clean water and holding tanks to all nursery and primary schools.
Meanwhile, Dr Van West-Charles has said that many understand the gap which exists in the provision of safe water, and GWI is, in some cases, not completely aware of the communities which are faced with the challenges of obtaining potable water.
As such, persons will be briefed on a quarterly basis via the media on the engagements and programmes which the company plans to execute.