Water treatment seminar launched

Sep 10, 2008 News

– aims at curbing water impurities

Participants were given a detailed presentation of how the water purification process should be conducted

The Ministry of Health and the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department in collaboration with Farfan & Mendes Ltd and the Pentair Corporation USA, yesterday began a two day seminar on water processing in Guyana. Pentair Corporation USA is a leading company in air and water purification.

The seminar, which was held at the Cara Lodge Hotel, is aimed at sensitizing local water treatment entities about the purification process of water.

Director of the Food and Drug Department, Ms. Marilyn Collis said the seminar is being conducted in recognition of the need for Food and Drug Inspectors to be properly upgraded on current practices of the processing techniques for water plants.

She noted that in 2007, a survey conducted by her department found that most of the local water treatment companies were not producing high quality water or adhering to the purification regulations.

The department subsequently met with the owners with regards to dealing with this issue. Collis said that in Georgetown alone there are about twenty water processing agents.

She added that only a percentage of these are licensed and posited that before a company can be licensed, the inspectors would have to do an inspection of the plant. The licensing process is done yearly.

At the seminar Mr. Victor Pizzaro and David Swiderski, representatives from Pentair Corporation, gave participants a detailed presentation of how the water purification process should be conducted.

The facilitators spoke about the various water treatment methods which include filtration and sterilisation.
They also informed on the international regulations that are related to the processing of drinking water.

The facilitators also educated on the common contaminants, which they listed as calcium, magnesium and carbonates and sulfates.

At the conclusion of the seminar, it is expected that the Inspection Officers would use their exposure to an array of information to improve their performance in the inspection process.

Inspection Officers are tasked with recommending corrective actions which water treatment companies have to adhere to.

The participants are being urged to produce microbiologically and chemically sound drinking water fit for human consumption.

The seminar ends today with the facilitators visiting some of the treatment plants in Georgetown.

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