GWI to install 40,000 meters by end of this year

Jun 23, 2017 News

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has announced plans to install some 40,000 meters by the end of this year in an effort to reduce Non-Revenue Water (NRW) across the country.
The entity in its mid-year report, noted that it has been boosting its efforts to ensure the reduction of NRW, which will aid in more water to become available in supply systems for customers.
Non-revenue water is defined as water produced by the company, for which it receives no money in return, but is lost through factors such as leaks and meter malfunctions.
The installation of these meters is expected to enhance the quality of service provided to Guyanese which will see service delivery move from 12 to 24 hours, the entity reported.
Further, the entity is already carrying “an aggressive” leak detection programme.
GWI’s plans to drastically reduce NRW, would come one year after a critical forensic report had called on the state-owned entity to pull out all stops to bring down its NRW losses from an alarming 70 percent to 45 percent within five years.
The report, prepared by HLB R. Seebarran & Co, was released in May 2016 by the Ministry of Finance, and is one of several forensic audits ordered by the coalition government in 2015 into the operations of state entities.
According to the forensic report, losses from non-revenue water had accounted for 70 percent of actual production.
It is still unclear, in monetary terms, how much was being lost through NRW.
The forensic report had stated that the 70 percent loss is to be blamed on a number of reasons including: leakages in water mains and home connections; illegal connections and non-billing of these; and over 50 percent of customers not metered which results in fixed billings.

IMPROVING WATER QUALITY
Meanwhile, the GWI in its mid-year report stated that for the first half of this year, focus had been placed heavily on improving the quality of water and at the same time, implementing measures to increase water production and distribution.
At present, works are being undertaken at several treatment plants such as Shelterbelt, Linden, Eccles, Sophia, Central Ruimveldt and New Amsterdam, to ensure that the water quality conforms to World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.
Additionally, GWI has introduced the use of a new treatment product called SeaQuest, which is currently being implemented at some pumping stations including Ithaca, Agricola, Bachelor’s Adventure and Clonbrook.
This product, research shows, helps to maintain the clear quality of the water without the iron being oxidized.
GWI is also advancing a programme for the construction and expansion of new water treatment plants across the country. This includes construction of new treatment plants at Sheet Anchor, Diamond and Uitvlugt.

CUSTOMER SERVICES
On the customer services front, GWI has recorded a 20 percent increase in its collections figure for the first half of 2017, when compared to the same period last year.
GWI’s Customer Services and Commercial Relations Department has also commenced plans for the undertaking of a customer service satisfaction survey, even as its Customer Call Centre conducts feedback surveys with callers.
In addition, the GWI said that steps are being taken to increase and improve customer interaction through the remodeling of the company’s website, community outreaches and radio and television call-in programs.

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GWI to install 40,000 meters by end of this year

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