Latest update January 1st, 2025 1:00 AM
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Chlorine leak at Shelter Belt….Operators may have been sleeping on job
– Karan Singh
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Karan Singh, has said that the recent chlorine leak at the Shelter Belt facility may have resulted from the negligence of the operators who were on duty.
At a press conference yesterday, Singh said that the investigation into the matter has not been completed as yet, because he has challenged certain aspects of it in terms of establishing where the operators were, what they were doing, and why the chlorine was allowed to spill and extend at a far distance without them knowing what was happening. 
“They could have died. There own safety was in jeopardy … we have a lot of safety gear for chlorine spill and so on, and (workers) knew exactly what they had to do. Unfortunately, if they were asleep — and I am assuming that they were, because if they were in the room where they were supposed to work, they would have smelled the chlorine gas instantly and shut off the service,” Singh said.
He said that a number of staff members still have to be interrogated, and disciplinary actions are likely if it is found that there was any aspect of negligence on the part of the staff. On July 26 last, at around 3:30hrs, there was a chlorine leak at the Shelter Belt, which affected two residents from the area. According to the CEO, one of the two residents had to leave her home and seek safety elsewhere, while the other resident was advised to move to the top flat of her home to guard against the gas.
Fortunately, none of the nearby residents reported any illnesses.
However, the situation did not end there, as it was noted that the chlorine odour had spread to some residents in Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park.
When the copper tubing was inspected by GWI, it was found that a crack had developed, which caused the chlorine to spill in small quantities after the initial leak had been corrected.
“I think this is the reason why it took such a long time to have an impact (on the other residents) because it was flowing at a very slow pace,” the CEO noted.
Singh also revealed that GWI is in the process of rehabilitating the Shelter Belt treatment facility, and liquid chlorine treatment is being placed at the facility, which means that GWI would not have to worry about the chlorine gas, which is more dangerous and can be poisonous at times.
As it relates to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aspect of it, Singh said that he is not aware of what the EPA has to do with it, and so far he has not been contacted by them in relation to the issue.
He did admit, though, that it would have been morally correct of GWI to report the matter to the EPA; but, according to Singh, since there were no injuries, he did not see the need to alarm the public.
The CEO also expressed his concern over the issue where persons are occupying lands that are in close proximity of GWI operations.
“We are concerned, I don’t know and I dare not attempt to challenge the residents of the area, I don’t wish it to be interpreted that way, but it is the same reason why, if you check where the Shelter Belt operations are located, those lands were never intended for housing.
– “That open space from the treatment plant going all the way to Eping Avenue was originally unused land. It was reserve land, and that is principally why no houses were built there,” Singh explained.
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