Several water wells to be drilled along Pomeroon River
Residents engaged by officials on issues relating to water supply in their communities
In order to achieve 100 per cent potable water access in Region Two, a new PAT Rig was procured through the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and will begin drilling wells in several villages along the Pomeroon River.
On Friday, residents of Wakapao, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) were engaged on development plans in the water sector, as Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal kickstarted a series of outreaches to communities along the Pomeroon River.
He was accompanied by the Regional Vice Chairman, Humace Oudit; GWI Director of Hinterland Services, Ramchand Jailal and other technical staff from GWI.
Croal noted that access to potable water is a challenge in a number of hinterland and riverine communities and residents would consume water from the creeks and rainwater harvesting.
In this regard, he said the Government has been pumping resources into the villages in aim of achieving 100 per cent potable water access in hinterland and riverine communities by 2025. Residents were also given the opportunity to raise several concerns in their village, which the Minister said will be addressed by the relevant authorities.
This year, almost $18 billion will be spent through a budgetary allocation to develop Guyana’s water sector.
As part of the Government’s strategy to improve water access across the country, 7000 households received first-time access to potable water in 2022. This was made possible with the commissioning of a number of wells across the country, including a number of wells on the coast to increase access to potable water.
Of these, a $141 million well was commissioned at Lusignan, one at Providence to the tune of $130 million, one at Wakenaam at a cost of $50 million, and another at New Chesney, Berbice.
Residents of the hinterland also received first-time access with the commissioning of 20 water treatment systems at Aranaputa, Rupertee, Wowetta, Rupununi, Jawalla, Shulinab and Annai among others.
Further, 30 additional wells will be constructed across the hinterland in 2023, to remove the gaps that exist in accessing water. Some 13 new water treatment plants will be constructed throughout this year, to the tune of some $32 billion.
