Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Richard Van West-Charles has called on the residents of Anns Grove/Clonbrook and surrounding communities to work with the utility company as it strives to improve its water distribution service to the East Coast Demerara (ECD) communities.
“The issue we have in Clonbrook and Anns Grove and you have to help us, so that
In photo (from left) are GWI CEO, Dr Richard Van West-Charles; Minister Simona Broomes; Minister Joseph Harmon and Region Four Chairperson Genevieve Allen
the quality will improve … the control of the leaks and wastage that’s occurring on this side and in Beehive. Unless we arrest the leaks and the wastage, people down at the end of the line will suffer and you are going to compromise the quality of water,” Dr Van West-Charles told residents.
The Department of Public Information (DPI) noted that at an outreach to the villages in the Anns Grove/Clonbrook neighbourhood on Saturday, the CEO encouraged residents to collaborate with the company to eliminate a collective debt of more than $100 million.
“We have 1400 customers in this area, but not everybody is paying so you have a collective debt of $16 million. We want to appeal to you. We don’t want to disconnect you. If you owe come and establish a contract. We will give you so many months to pay that debt and keep current,” Dr Van West-Charles encouraged.
Acknowledging that there were still water purification and distribution problems in Anns Grove and neighbouring communities, the CEO said that a process to remove the iron content from the water had commenced. Further, he said the
Residents of the Anns Grove/Clonbrook attending the GWI outreach
company was working to resolve issues relating to low water pressure in the distribution system, which have plagued the communities for some time now.
“We do know that you were having some problems in terms of the level of service, because the Enmore number two well is down and should be back up within another three weeks with a new pump, so because the system is very well interconnected, you will see we will be able to move water to the lower lands, even to Victoria at the back, for an improved service,” the CEO explained.
Dr Van West-Charles indicated that a team from the water company toured the communities and realised that only one side of the Middle Walk at the back of Anns Grove was being supplied with water. He gave an undertaking to have that situation rectified within a short time.
“We have decided that probably by the end of the new week, we are going to be running the continuation of the transmission lines and interconnections and ensure that people on both sides of the street and the back will get access to water,” he said.
Dr Van West-Charles gave assurances for the establishment of a new well at the back of Sparendaam, another at Better Hope and water treatment in Friendship/Annandale to enable significant improvement in the water supply. However, he cautioned that infrastructural work at the Hope Canal would have to be conducted. “We have to replace the crossing at the Hope Canal and so we promise you that before Christmas, the area will be well served with adequate water and good-quality water,” he said.
Meanwhile, Director of Operations, Dwayne Shako said that works at the Buxton/Friendship Pump Station were progressing and were on stream for the installation of treatment plants in early 2018.
Included in the official team at the outreach were Ministers of Government, Simona Broomes and Joseph Harmon, along with regional and local government representatives.
