Over 200 Kamana residents to benefit from $48M water supply system
Approximately 232 residents of Kamana, a community in the North Pakaraimas of Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), are now benefitting from the installation of a $48 million water supply system.
Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal on Sunday commissioned the facility following a brief community meeting with residents.
Accompanying the Minister were Guyana Water Inc. Hinterland Service Director and regional staff, and the contractor responsible for installing the new facility, Ramesh Kissoon of R. Kissoon Contracting Services.
Some of the residents of Kamana, in the North Pakaraimas
During the meeting, the minister updated residents on development plans for the region coming out of the recently passed 2024 National Budget. Overall, to improve water services in the hinterland regions, a total of $1.5 billion has been budgeted. Two new wells are expected to be completed in Region Eight, one at Mahdia and another in the village of Campbell Town.
Speaking to residents about the new facility, the minister implored residents to play their part in preserving it. Given their location away from the coast, Croal noted, training in basic maintenance of the facility would be provided to residents to ensure its longevity.
Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal sampling the water from the new supply system
The scope of the Kamana project included drilling a potable water well to a depth of 120 metres, installation of 3000 metres of 50mm (2”) PVC pipes, 1000 metres of 19mm (3/4”) PVC pipes with 50 services connections, the construction of concrete slab and installation of storage tanks and installation of photovoltaic pumping system and perimeter fence.
Before this new water supply project, the community had been receiving water from a small spring which was inadequate to provide water to the entire community.
The water supply system at Sandhill
Also, a donation of sporting gear was made to the community by R. Kissoon Contracting Services.
Meanwhile, the minister also commissioned another water supply system at Sandhill in the same region, which was constructed to the tune of $36 million. The population at Sandhill is about 129.
Minister Croal displaying the quality of water taken from the well
Before the implementation of this new water supply project, the community did not have any water supply infrastructure, and as such relied on river water and rainfall.
The scope of the Sandhill project included the construction of a concrete intake pumping chamber at the creek source; installation of 800 metrs of 50mm (2”) PVC pipes, 400 metres of 19mm (3/4”) PVC pipes with 20 service connections; construction of concrete slab and installation of storage tanks, and the installation of photovoltaic pumping system and fence
