GWI to start monitoring canals alongside Haags Bosch

Nov 12, 2016 News

— Routine checks of treatment plants in the area ongoing
The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has not been monitoring or testing the water quality in the

GWI CEO, Dr. Richard Van West- Charles

canals alongside the Haags Bosch Landfill located at Eccles, East Bank Demerara.
This was revealed by Dr Richard Van West-Charles, Chief Executive Officer at GWI, when questioned by this publication about the possible contamination of the canals surrounding the landfill site.
The CEO noted however, that this is something the company needs to and will look into as GWI continues to expand on the issue of water quality. Dr. Van West-Charles added that presently, GWI is seriously understaffed, with only one Hydrogeologist employed at the utility company.
Chemical Engineer at GWI, Dellon Anderson said that while the company is not currently monitoring the areas in question, frequent checks are done at the water treatment facilities in the area.
“We have not discontinued our routine monitoring of those treatment plants; we are still monitoring the routine parameters including microbiological aspects of the treatment plants within that area,” Anderson said.
The Haags Bosch landfill is not able to process waste water. However persons have been frequently dumping waste oil and other expired liquids in the trenches along the access road to the dumpsite, a source close to the operations had reveal to this publication.
The source said that this is a major environmental hazard, noting that the trenches are

The location where persons would dump oil into the waterway.

connected to other waterways. Moreover, the source added that it is surprising that the Environmental Protection Agency has not voiced its concern over the current situation facing the waterways
Jagmohan Construction has taken over the construction of the leachate ponds which were to be constructed in the initial stages of the landfill’s construction. Project Engineer, out of the Ministry of Communities, Satrohan Nauth, who has oversight over the Landfill Projects, said Jagmohan Construction mobilized on October 17 and has been working around the clock.
The official said he was very pleased with works done so far.
Leachate generation is a major problem for solid waste landfill and can cause a significant threat to surface and groundwater.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News