The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) will soon construct a new pump station for residents of Hubu Backdam, East Bank Essequibo, following an article published by Guyana Times highlighting the hardships endured by residents of that major farming community as they struggle to get potable water.
GWI is also apologising to the residents of Hubu for the poor quality of water they have been receiving over the years.
Some the residents at the meeting on Friday
A GWI delegation led by Chief Executive Officer Dr Richard Van West Charles visited the area on Friday to meet with the residents to discuss their concerns. Dr Van West-Charles addressed the residents at the Blake Primary School and apologised for the low-quality service they were receiving.
<<Guyana Times>> has been informed that a decision was made to develop a new water well to serve the community.
Dr Van West-Charles said GWI would be moving to drill a new well to serve the residents of Hubu. He explained that GWI is looking to adopt the approach of well fields, which allows redundancy in cases where one well fails. “We will immediately seek to drill the new well, and it takes approximately 10-12 weeks to complete drilling,” Dr Van West-Charles said.
GWI, in a statement, disclosed that the supply being delivered to Hubu contains an average iron content of 8mg/l, which is one of the contributing factors to the discolouration and foul odour of the water the residents have been forced to utilise for basic purposes like cooking, washing, bathing and cleaning.
The statement explained that similar situations exist for some 50 percent of GWI well stations across the country, where untreated water is supplied.
Short-term
To provide a more immediate solution to the woes of Hubu residents, GWI has agreed to reconnect Hubu to the Vergenoegen Water Treatment Plant in an arrangement that would provide residents with an improved quality of service. Hubu residents would receive water in this arrangement from 10:00h to 12:00h (10:00am to noon) and from 21:00h to 00:00h (9:00pm to midnight). In addition, the option of delivering water to residents by tankers is also available to residents outside do the scheduled time agreed upon.
GWI explained that the community was taken off the Vergenoegen system and connected to the troublesome Hubu well because that former system was operating above its designed capacity.
Residents had told this publication that the water supply was comparatively better when they were receiving water from the Vergenoegen Station, but GWI said Hubu residents received a low level, and in some cases no service at all, when they were connected to the Vergenoegen Station.
“In light of this fact and repeated complaints from the said residents, GWI moved to activate the Hubu well at a cost of three million dollars. Activation of this well resulted in an elevated water pressure to above second floor level, and 24-hour supply. Upon completion of the project, residents expressed satisfaction with the well being restored,” GWI stated.
GWI said it has taken note of the water woes plaguing the community, and has pledged to improve the quality of water from the Hubu well.
Hubu residents told this newspaper during a recent visit that it was highly unacceptable that they were paying for foul and discoloured water, which they cannot use for cooking, washing, bathing, drinking or cleaning purposes. Komal Narine, considered a village leader, had challenged the ministers and those in authority at GWI to use the quality of water Hubu residents were receiving, and had dared them to endure the struggles. Some residents have said they are burdened with additional expenses — $12,000 to $20,000 per month in some cases — to treat the unfiltered tap water or purchase supplementary water in order to survive.
Residents had called on GWI and the relevant authorities to expedite the improvements to the water system, so they can once again enjoy a normal quality of life; one in which potable water does not seem like a luxurious amenity only to be afforded by the rich. Dr Van West-Charles has also revealed that GWI customer service staff will engage Hubu residents on April 29 at Blake Primary School, to address queries relating to bill payments and metering.
And further, he reiterated GWI’s message of water conservation and cautioned them to guard against engaging in illegal activities, such as bribery and unauthorized connections.
