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New Sheet Anchor water treatment plant on schedule
Amidst conflicting information Lower East Canje residents want authorities to say if they are included. A new treatment plant being built at Sheet Anchor, East Canje Berbice, funded by the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB) and the European Union (EU) is on schedule to be completed by mid-2019.
This project is one of the components of a larger project for which a US$31.6M loan was signed in 2014 by the government and the IDB for a Water Supply and Sanitation Infrastructure Improvement Programme.
Ongoing works at the Sheet Anchor East Canje Berbice site.
The main objective of the project is to improve efficiency, quality and sustainability of the potable water services and better sanitation infrastructure in Georgetown and several areas along the coast.
To date, works on the Sheet Anchor plant which commenced in June is 34 per cent complete with some works two weeks ahead of schedule.
The project monitoring committee which comprises representatives from the IDB, Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), the Ministry of Communities and Ministry of Finance visited the site and assessed the works being done.
Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, said he was satisfied with the works carried out to date.
“It’s always nice to get out of your office and see what’s happening on the ground and I’m satisfied with what I’m seeing. From what we have heard and seen, this project is proceeding in terms of the schedule and timetable.”
The Minister said that reducing non-revenue water losses is the most significant aspect of the project since millions have been lost in that regard.
Providing an update of the physical works of the project, Project Manager for Hydroplan, Richard Persaud explained that currently, the fencing for the project is complete.
He outlined that works are ongoing on the sedimentation tank where the base slab has been poured. The excavation and backfilling for the first and second ground storage tanks have been completed and the blinding concrete poured for one tank.
Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan and team gets a tour of the site.
The plan includes bringing the water from the three wells which currently serve the area to the treatment plant via pipelines, strengthening of the distribution system to distribute the water to the surrounding communities, extending the system to serve those areas that were served by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and delivering water via variable speed pumps.
“At the end of the year, all concrete works for structures will be completed. During next year the equipment and pumps will be installed,” Persaud assured.
IDB Country Representative, Sophie Makonnen, is also pleased with the work completed so far. “It’s very refreshing to see that things are going as per planned; the output is potable and quality water for the surrounding communities.”
GWI Managing Director, Dr. Richards Van West-Charles and Planning and Implementation Director, Ramchand Jailall was also part of the site visit.
However residents in the lower East Canje areas of Betsy Ground, Gangaram and further down are not too sure if they are a part of the plan. They stated that one time they are told that the water distribution would stop at Goed Bananen Land, then onetime Betsy Ground and then Gangaram and so on.
When inquiries were made they were told to write a petition and signed. But resident are afraid to put their names on document and signed. Residents say the old excuse of GUYSUCO providing water cannot hold “water”, because the Rose Hall Sugar Estate has been closed. They need firm commitments from the Government and GWI.
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