Suggestions for the overhauling of Guyana’s water system

Sep 13, 2016 Letters

---

Dear Editor,
Thank you for publishing my thoughts on GWI, under the caption; “The Guyana Association of Professional Engineers has failed the nation,” in your Monday September 05, 2016 Kaieteur Newspaper. Today I just want to fulfill the promise made to comment later, on the role of a progressive government with specific reference to GWI.
· Ensure that the GWI board comprises of independent and professional individuals, not political appointees.
· Empower the GWI board to take corrective actions when the performance of the Chief Executive Officer and senior managers are unacceptable. Management by objective is the recommended management tool, where objectives that are measurable in terms of quantity, quality, cost and time, are given to all employees, from the head to the tail.
· Whilst it may be necessary for government to continue subsidizing GWI’s operation, because of its inability to attain self financing status, a feature that exist for many years, this practice cannot continue indefinitely. Taxpayers’ money should never be ploughed into an inefficient manufacturing entity that has the capacity/potential to generate adequate revenue to maintain itself and grow. The management must therefore be given reasonable time and the necessary help to shape up or shape out. Privatization of the water sector should never be ruled out, on the basis of ideology. If we do, then we will get caught up with fire fighting activities and in the process lose sight of the objectives. The focus should be on reliable service delivery, affordability and sustainability.·
· The Government of Guyana, via the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, must move without delay in setting up a task force to review the country’s Engineer’s Act via parliament. The task force assignment can only be completed when the mechanism to activate and enforce the Act is put into place. The present role of GAPE to maintain a register of Engineering graduates serves little or no purpose. Public consultation is extremely important in this regards. ·
· The Government of Guyana can mandate the GWI board to initiate a review of the Guywa Act and assist in its passage through Parliament, followed by the setting up of mechanisms to implement and execute. This is necessary for obvious reasons which may include ignorance of the existing Act, exhibited by senior operatives in the organization.·
· The Government of Guyana via its Housing Ministry, can examine the possibility to regularized squatting areas and complete unfinished infrastructure work in housing schemes, to facilitate the provision of regular water supply services.·
· We are all aware of the threats (depletion of groundwater) imposed by ground water extraction and climate changes. Hence, Government can consider having the building code revised, to include underground water storage tanks, using the roof of buildings as a catchment. This is a reality in Bermuda, The Turks and Caicos Islands and other countries, even though their main stream of potable water supply comes from desalination. This will certainly reduce the dependency on groundwater and improve GWI service levels.
· The water sector in Guyana has added value potential, due to the high demand for imported bottle water. A study is therefore needed to determine whether an investment of this nature is sustainable.
· · The Government of Guyana via the GWI board can initiate the development of an incentive program, aimed at reducing water consumption, thus preserving the water resource. Many environment friendly governments have invested in such programs because of the potential benefits.·
· The misuse of treated water for purposes such as watering plants, washing vehicles and driveways, construction purposes, fire hydrants, toilet flushing etc, increases the demand on GWI’s supply system. This represents a waste of money utilized to add physical, chemical and hygienic properties to water unnecessarily. Hence a study may be necessary to determine whether a parallel raw water system is sustainable and increases affordability from a customer perspective. The local kitchen garden farmers may rejoice.·
· A body to protect the public from incapable and morally challenged contractors is more than necessary. The present system of granting a contractor license is useless and quite understandably is adding to GWI’s woes, even though clerk of works are normally assigned to capital projects.·
· Seeking assistance from international funding agencies, to finance a GWI institutional framework strengthening project is necessary, as well as implementing the resultant recommendations.
· · Because the water industry has been taken for granted over the years, an acute shortage of technical skills exist. Many reputable institutions provide training/education in water engineering. The Government via the Ministry of Education can exploit this provision.·
· The Government of Guyana via the GWI board should initiate a comprehensive investigation to determine solutions for the following;
(a) The unacceptable level of “Unaccounted for Water”, which in real sense, represents excessive loss of needed and scarce revenue.
(b) The relatively high unit production cost of treated water.
(c) The inefficient operation of water supply systems, that may be due to the removal of overhead tanks, design and/or construction anomalies, unconventional operation procedures and practices, inadequate and/or more than adequate well pump capacities, as-built water supply systems varying from the intended design/technical specifications etc.
(d) The negative effects of the absence of a certification program for system operators and technicians in the water sector.
(e) The significantly reduced economic useful life of water supply systems.
The points outlined may not be applicable in all cases. However, what I attempted to do here, is to differentiate roles that government can play in helping GWI to enhance its performance level, without interfering in operational matters. Managers must be allowed to manage within specific guidelines and be held responsible for exceptional performance as well as under achievement.
Hector Lambert

---

---