The new water system being commissioned in Parikawarinau village
Better water quality is now a reality for the village of Parikawarinau in the Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), after a new $18 million water supply system was commissioned by the Housing and Water Ministry.
This means travelling far distances to use a well is a thing of the past. This new system is expected to benefit some 211 persons from 56 households in the village. Commissioning the structure was Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, Regional Chairman Brian Allicock, Hinterland Service Director Ramchand Jailal and Toshao Brian James.
Under this project, engineers from the Guyana Water Incorporated installed a complete water supply system comprising a newly drilled well, a two-kilometre distribution network, 40 stand pipes, and elevated storage. This new system now serves 95 per cent of the community with access to potable water at a household level.
However, a total of 12 households reside far from the system and are not connected and would require approximately eight kilometres of the network to be connected.
Parikawarinau is situated approximately 35 kilometres south of the main town of Lethem. It is home to approximately 211 persons, amounting to over 50 households. Before the upgrade of the water supply system, residents relied on a hand-dug well and windmill system to supply the community with potable water. Some residents would have to travel far distances to access potable water for consumption – one of the major challenges faced by the people of Parikawarinau since there was no network to serve the community.
The Minister reminded of Government’s commitment to ensure that there is 100 per cent coverage of potable water in all hinterland regions. He urged residents to play their part in ensuring that they get the maximum benefit from the system by taking care of all components of the system.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that only 53 per cent of the four hinterland regions have access to potable water, in which pledges were made to reach 100 per cent by 2025. In its quest to achieve this, 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.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Six speaks to “equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all” and is a target to be achieved by 2030. However, GWI is confident that all communities in Guyana will have access to potable water five years earlier. (G12)
