Faulty pipe networks stall Port Kaituma water upgrade

Nov 14, 2018 News

GWI’s Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles (center), Non-revenue water Coordinator, Carlos Rodrigues (left) and Hinterland Engineer, Jumal Duncan (right) assessing the progress of on-going works in Port Kaituma.

The Region One village of Port Kaituma has been on the schedule for upgraded water supplies after prolonged periods of water shortages. However, this upgrade has been marred by numerous factors that would have been in existence over a 15-year period.
These factors include an unstable power supply and an inaccurate pipe network design, which has contributed to numerous leaks.
A visit was made by Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles and a team of senior technical officials to the Region One community on Friday, November 9, last, to assess the progress of works undertaken to date.
During his visit, the Managing Director learnt that the existing distribution system which runs across an undulating terrain has a lot of its mains exposed to the surface of the road. It was also noted that there were no flush-out valves in some sections of the network.
To date, a technical team from Georgetown is currently in the community to undertake corrective works to the distribution network.
These corrective works include making the necessary interconnections and reorganizing the entire distribution system.
Among the problems identified within the distribution network were over 80 leaks with 20 of those being major ones. The technical team is reportedly in the process of repairing those leaks and installing flush-out and air valves, so as to facilitate an improved quality and level of service to residents.
Additionally, works were said to be underway for the development of a new well drilled to the required depth of 210 feet. The well was recently drilled in the compound of the Citrus Grove pump station. The contractor responsible for this project is Chowritmootoo Construction Service.
The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is reportedly aimed at providing a daily water supply to residents of Port Kaituma and to phase out sectionalizing. Currently sections of the community are receiving water two days per week. However, this is dependent on a sufficient power supply from Kaituma Power Inc. and the reconfiguration of the distribution network.
Plans are also underway to reduce the usage of the river water as the main source of supply and utilise additional groundwater sources.
Residents of Port Kaituma have been utilizing surface water from the Port Kaituma River for over 15 years. However, the water obtained from this river is at risk of contamination by mining and agricultural activities.
Recently, the water from the river was notably contaminated with high level of mercury. However, subsequent tests that were conducted on the river water revealed that the level of the mercury decreased significantly to 0.000033 mg/l which is within acceptable levels.

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