'El Niño' continues to deplete water supply

‘El Niño’ continues to deplete water supply

Mar 12, 2010 News

GWI Chief Executive Yuri Chandisingh addressing media operatives yesterday.

– GWI announces supply schedule adjustment

Guyana Water Incorporated, the nation’s supplier of water and sanitation services, is reiterating a plea for customers to conserve on the use of water as the current dry season continues to affect the level of the Lamaha Canal, a significant source of water supply for consumers within the capital city.
Given the current lack of rainfall and the inability of the Lamaha Canal to replenish its supply to meet the current demands, the Company’s Shelter-Belt Water Treatment Plant is currently delivering five megalitres (5 million litres) less than normal.
“The level of the canal remains critical despite the assistance we have received from the National Drainage and Irrigation Board and the East Demerara Water Conservancy Board,” said GWI’s Chief Executive, Yuri Chandisingh, “this is indeed a crisis and we are urging our customers to respond accordingly.”
Chandisingh noted that despite mass media messages and the partnership of the local media in highlighting the issue, the Company has observed a complete lack of regard for the water crisis by customers.
“One becomes angry when customers are seen using water to clean their concrete yards, which seems to be a trend throughout Guyana. This practice is particularly wasteful in the treated water areas where the purified water supplied by GWI should be used for domestic purposes only. We have also urged our customers to desist from washing vehicles at this time – there are alternatives to using GWI’s supply for non-domestic purposes.”
The Chief Executive further pleaded with GWI customers to be responsible and to heed the warnings, since continued wastage will result in severe consequences.
In light of the decreased level of the Lamaha Canal due to the ‘El Niño’ phenomenon, GWI has been forced to adjust its water supply schedule for customers of Central Georgetown.
Speaking of the company’s interventions and revised supply schedule, Curtis Niles, the Division Manager, disclosed that the changes include a normal supply distribution between 04:30 and 09:00hrs when most customers are utilizing water for domestic purposes. From 09:00hrs to 12:00hrs water will be distributed at a low pressure. No pressure will be available from 13:00hrs to 17:00hrs, when most customers are not utilizing water for domestic purposes.
Normal pressure will return between 17:00hrs and 22:00hrs and consumers are being advised to replenish their reservoirs during this period.
Meanwhile, Chandisingh also warned that the current prolonged dry season could have dire consequences for aquifers.
“Because of the dry weather there is a significant increase in the amount of water utilized by our customers, this is further compounded by the fact that no rainfall means that the aquifers cannot replenish their supply at the normal rate. This means that our aquifers are currently under tremendous strain with increased demand and no rainfall to replenish their supplies.
This is a worrying factor and our customers must be cognizant of these facts and guard against wastage and the unnecessary use of water.
The sustainability of the nation’s water supply rests with our customers. They must be prudent in their use of water.”