Latest update April 4th, 2025 6:13 AM
More water access for Region Nine residents
The elevated storage in the village of Wowetta
Kaieteur News – Several border areas in Region Nine are to see improvements to their water supply.
Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal on Sunday visited the communities of Wowetta, Aranaputa and Annai in the North Rupununi, Sub-district of Region 9.
The Wowetta community is now benefiting from a new water supply system, which has provided 24 hours water supply to more than 95% of the community, representing approximately 400 residents.
A new well was drilled by state-owned Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and has been complemented by a distribution network, an elevated storage unit, and new photovoltaic system through a project undertaken by the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) to the tune of some $27M.
The project was designed to supply the residents with their own private service connections at a household level.
“Minister Croal assured that another 200 meters of pipeline will be installed, and that will bring water access to 100% of the community. He expressed confidence that the system will serve the community well, while adding that they are looking to replicate the infrastructure in other communities,” GWI said in its statement yesterday.
Resident of Wowetta, Judith Moses expressed gratitude for the community’s new water supply system, noting that residents now have sufficient water.
She previously accessed water from a hand-dug well and highlighted that with the new system, she now has access to a better quality of water in a more convenient way. The resident added that work is being done to educate the residents about the efficient use of the water.
Senior Councilor, Ornold Norman echoed similar sentiments while stating how pleased he is that the residents now have 24 hour access to water. He said that this intervention is timely, given the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, in Aranaputa, GWI had drilled a well to supply the residents with access to potable water. This well is now being complemented with a distribution network, elevated storage and an upgraded photovoltaic system, to provide 24-hours supply of water to some 600 residents of the community.
This project is being executed to the tune of some $30M by the BNTF and is expected to be completed within the next three weeks.
At the conclusion of this project, the water access coverage is expected to be increased from 20% to 100%, an 80% increase in overall coverage in this community.
In Annai, GWI recently activated a new well, which is providing potable water to a section of the community, which includes the hospital.
GWI is scheduled to drill another well in the community before the end of 2020, which will benefit some 500 residents. According to Minister Croal, when the well is drilled, GWI will be interlinking the system.
He added that a request will be made under the 2021 budget to facilitate further works to the distribution network. Further, funds will be sought for the construction of a new trestle in the community since the current one is in disrepair and has structural issues.
The subject minister said that by the end of the first quarter of 2021, the entire village will be interconnected and receiving a constant supply of water.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The reciprocal tariffs
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has once again proven his talent for making the indefensible... more
The U.S. “Joining” the Commonwealth: an unreasonable expectation
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- Recent media stories have suggested that King Charles III could “invite” the United... more
Weekend Cartoon
