Major upgrades to hinterland water systems on the cards for 2023

In the wake of complaints by residents of Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini) about the present state of the water system, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal recently visited the community and reassured them that the issues would be fixed promptly.

“The idea is to have an assessment of the current situation. I know persons within the Mabaruma central area have been complaining about recent water issues. I want to assure them that we have a plan and that we have already put some measures in place to correct this,” Croal told the residents.
According to him, the drilling rig which is currently in the Matakai sub-district would be used to drill several wells in Mabaruma in the first quarter of 2023 which will be able to supply the entire Mabaruma central area and its immediate environs.
“In addition to that, we are here at the Wanaina sub-station… the Wauna community currently access water from this system as well as the Hosororo area. We will be drilling a well within the Wauna village, so Wonga will be independent in terms of its water source. So, what that means is that this Wanaina system will now be able to supply a greater volume of water to the Hosororo community…,” Minister Croal explained.
Prior to the installation of electrical pumps in Mabaruma, residents of the Indigenous community were accessing water from rotting tanks, which hampered water distribution and sanitation. The tanks were all replaced with new plastic tanks.
Given that Barima-Waini is part of the Hinterland Electrification Expansion Programme, the Minister said that this would allow the Wanaina sub-station to connect to the electrical grid which will result in more pumping hours for water.
Similarly, in the first quarter of next year, the faulty engine at the Wanaina system will be replaced.
Over in the Matakai community, several wells are being drilled. In response to residents of Port Kaituma complaining about their water supply, Minister Croal added that by next week, a new engine would be sent there to have additional pumping hours.
But, then, he pointed out that that was only half of the residents’ problem.
Concerns were also raised about the quality of water they source from the creeks. In light of this, the Housing and Water Minister disclosed that a new well would be drilled there by next month. A rig is currently in Moruca digging several wells.
“For example, they have just completed a well at Horadia. The rig is currently being relocated to Kwebanna. When it is finished with Kwebanna, then it will come to Manawarin and go back to Waramuri… when we are finished with Waramuri, we will be digging a well in Santa Rosa to cater for the source of the water they are receiving…,” he said.
He added: “We have been expending a lot of money in the hinterland expansion, for new areas to benefit from water. When we are finished with the Mabaruma municipality, we will then move on to other communities, like the satellite for Whitewater… etcetera.”
In its quest to increase hinterland water coverage by 100 per cent by 2025, the Government has injected some $1.5 billion into its hinterland water programme since taking office.
This sum has resulted in the drilling of new well systems and upgrades to existing systems in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine. Several riverine Amerindian communities within the coastal regions are also being looked at for upgrades to the water systems.