New well, booster pump among interventions to address water woes at Mahdia

Oct 26, 2023 News

Kaieteur News – Amid low water pressure and supply in Mahdia, Region Eight due to the dry season, the township is set to benefit from the immediate interventions of water tanks, a new well and booster pump.

This is according to the Region’s Regional Executive Officer (REO), Peter Ramotar who gave this publication an update on the current situation in Mahdia on Monday. According to Mr. Ramotar, the Salbora Creek which is one of the main sources of water to the township, is below the normal level. He said the creek is not one that would go completely dry but due to the severe heat wave the water level has dropped. The REO said in collaboration with the Region, the Town Council and the Guyana Water Inc. they have put some tanks in place. “We have tanks at the lower level where the flow is continuous and the people were able to get water from them and so it is not a case where we are completely at a crisis or out of water,” he reassured.

Just a few days ago, following concerns raised by residents of the water situation in Mahdia, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal and Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai among other officials visited the region to put some measures in place to bring about relief. It was noted by the Housing and Water Ministry that GWI would be working to install a booster pump to assist with supply of water to the high areas. Additionally, the ministry stated that a new well is to be drilled on an emergency basis. “The contractor is currently mobilising and the well is expected to be completed within 2-3 weeks. This well will be drilled at the entrance of Campbelltown since it is deemed a very suitable area for the drilling,” the ministry in a statement said.

Section of the Salbora Spring in Region Eight. (Ministry of Housing and Water photos)

As a result of the extended dry season, the region’s water supply is being affected. Currently water is being supplied to lower elevations such as airstrip and the bottom flat of Danjou Hill. Most of the areas at high elevation are not receiving supply, which is around 40% of the municipality.

Kaieteur News understands that the Mahdia Water System provides water to the residents via three sources (Salbora Spring, 7 Miles Well & Admin well). The Salbora source, the ministry mentioned provides water to 2/3 of the population while 7 Miles well provides water to the other 1/3. Earlier this month, GWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaik Baksh during a press briefing had mentioned that due to the El Nino weather, the hinterland areas have been most impacted.

“In all the hinterland regions we have seen depletion in water supply in the surface water supply that is the springs and creeks, which is adversely affecting the population in those areas,” he had stated. One such area he highlighted that is experiencing the brunt of the dry weather is the Salbora Creek in the Mahdia area of Region Eight. The CEO explained that the Salbora Creek is currently depleted of about 80 percent of the water it supplies and has the potential of creating hardship for the population there.

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interventions, Mahdia, Peter Ramotar, pump, Regional Executive Officer (REO)

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