Residents of Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) who were complaining bitterly of water woes that were affecting them are soon to benefit from improved water supply.
The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) team, along with several officials from the Communities Ministry, visited the area on Saturday last and met with the residents who were assured of better days.
A section of the gathering during the consultations
The visit was aimed at reaching a consensus on the community members identified to work along with GWI, as well as the short, medium and long term recommendations made for the improvement of the Mahdia water supply system.
During the visit, residents lamented the need to pay large sums of money for water to be delivered to them and the current water distribution system which they say catered only for some sections of the area.
Speaking at the small gathering held at the Mahdia Secondary School, Junior Communities Minister Dawn Hastings-Williams urged residents to work together with the water company for an improved water supply.
She expressed confidence in GWI that it would fulfil all commitments of providing water to all the residents of Mahdia, while commending residents for boldly voicing their concerns.
The Minister noted that residents’ involvement was critical to the realisation of Government’s goal of developing sustainable communities.
Addressing the residents, GWI Managing Director, Dr Richard Van West-Charles, who headed the water company’s team to Mahdia, assured residents that the GWI was committed to ensuring a constant water supply to the entire population of the community.
However, he warned residents that they have to be responsible and to ensure that pipelines were not further damaged in order to prevent leakage.
He highlighted that some 60 leaks were found in just two days. As such, a team from Georgetown would be deployed in Mahdia to identify and repair more leaks.
Owing to the existence of leakages and the high demand, many residents were left without water in Mahdia.
Constant disruptions and low level of service on account of pipelines being broken during road works and by miners; clogged lines; unauthorised connections and the dry season contribute to the lack of water supply in the community. Saturday’s meeting stemmed from GWI’s visit to Mahdia last month to commence the planning process.
