Latest update December 4th, 2024 1:39 AM
Latest News
- Four consultants shortlisted to supervise $6.5B Lethem Hospital project
- Suriname sharing the wealth
- Exxon says US$2.5B spent to purchase oil ships is a ‘win’ for company
- Guyana’s 3rd oil project achieved fastest ramp-up in the history of deep-water operations- ExxonMobil Guyana President
- After days of Israeli strikes, Hezbollah hits back, each accusing the other of ceasefire violations
GWI on urgent quest to improve sewage system – Aaron
GWI PRO, Rawle Aaron
The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is working to arrest problems with its sewage system, which according to Public Relations Officer, Rawle Aaron, is overwhelmed by the increasing number of households utilising it.
Aaron yesterday disclosed that the sewage system, which was commissioned in 1929, was designed to facilitate 24 pump stations. He however pointed out that only eight of the pumps are currently working thus seriously affecting the ability to move sewage through the network.
In addition, Aaron said that the failure of the system has been linked to the overpopulation of the city, adding that at construction it was intended to be utilised by a mere 20,000 households.
“The population in Georgetown has increased tremendously over the years causing the sewage system to become overworked.
Coupled with being overworked, there is also the situation of the system being aged,” Aaron highlighted.
And since the system is driven by gravity flow, when materials enter the system they can only move by gravity to the main chambers at which point the pumps activate, he said.
However, misuse of the system has become a serious problem, Aaron noted. He said that foreign materials, the likes of dead animals, coconut shells, sewing machines, sanitary napkins and pampers, have been constantly entering the system.
“I think that the system is seriously being abused. If persons are operating restaurants and they do not use grease traps the grease clogs up the system and prevent the gravity mechanism from working…So the actual waste does not get a chance to get to the area to be pumped out,” Aaron said.
He pointed to the urgent need for persons to be sensitised of the proper usage of the sewage system, adding that the Public Relations Department will soon be taking information to the people.
“We will go to the communities in Georgetown and talk to residents about water and sewage in a drive to educate them. We believe that if we have a more educated population then they will have more respect for our system and will not damage it.”
The water company earlier this year inked a US$422,560 contract with FCT Technologies Incorporated of Miami, Florida, for the supply of 28 submersible wastewater pumps for the upgrade of the sewage systems in the city.
Yesterday Aaron said that the pumps have already been procured and will soon be installed.
He said that once the installation process is completed the number of overflows and blockages experienced by GWI customers will drastically decrease once residents are prepared to modify their current culture.
In the interim he noted, “We are asking our customers who are affected to bear with us because we have to have contractors come directly to their locations and deal with the multiplicity of complaints we get every day.”
Aaron asserted though that while GWI technical staffers are fatigued as it relates to the response process every measure will be implemented to ensure that the problem will be corrected in the not too distant future.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Deeply concerned about political dysfunction in society
Dear Editor The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is deeply concerned about the political dysfunction in society that is... more
Haiti: Tragically Descending into Deeper Crisis
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- As gang violence spirals out of control in Haiti, the limitations of international... more
Weekend Cartoon
