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‘Central sewerage system facing total collapse’

Dec 15, 2008 News

Urgent rectification required  – PAHO

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has revealed that the central Georgetown sewerage system is in imminent danger of total collapse, which could result in the outbreak of communicable diseases, inclusive of cholera.

This was noted in the recently prepared GWI Short/Medium Term Strategy Plan.
However, in its strategic plan for the sanitation sector in Guyana, PAHO noted that this scenario can only be avoided through immediate implementation of works on the system.

“There are many serious problems with the existing system. Damage to the pumps is common, with two main causes. During the frequent failures of the surface water drainage system during periods of heavy rainfall, the dry wells in which the pumps are located become partly flooded, and as such the electrical components in the pumps’ equipment are damaged,” PAHO noted.

It was explained in the sanitation plan that the other major cause of damage has to do with the misuse of the sewerage system by some of the population, with large solid pieces of rubbish being dumped into the sewers. As a result, there are rarely more than 15 to 24 pumps operating at any one time.

According to PAHO, it is not uncommon for these defects to result in raw sewage seeping onto the surface, causing unacceptable smells and health hazards.

“There are also defective smaller sewers that leak into the open trench system of surface water drainage in Georgetown, contaminating the surface water,” PAHO stated. It was explained that the tariff that has been set for the sewage charges is far too low to meet the running costs of a properly functioning system, which is the responsibility of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).

According to PAHO, domestic annual charges of G$5,400 are less than a quarter of the operating costs, and major hotels only pay G$25,000 per year.

“If consideration is given to expanding the Georgetown system, or to develop new systems at other urban centres, then the issue of financing must be faced realistically.”

It was noted that it would be a major multi-million-US-dollar project to extend the system, and running costs would also be several million US dollars annually. 

Meanwhile, the strategic plan also pointed to the issue of the impact of untreated sewage being pumped several hundred metres offshore into the mouth of the Demerara River.

PAHO stated in the plan that the degree of dilution should be sufficient to prevent contamination.  However, it was explained that local concentrations at the outfall will be much higher, and marine life can be attracted to the organic waste, thus seafood may be contaminated.

There are concerns about the integrity of the outfall pipe, which according to PAHO is known to have had leaks and cracks in the past, and it may very well be that not all sewage is delivered to the main river stream. 

The central sewerage system serves approximately one-third of the Georgetown population. The existing system consists of 24 pumping stations and 24 wells.

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