The Water Tank and Poverty Reduction

Apr 02, 2024 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Kaieteur News – The current drought plaguing Guyana has further highlighted the critical role of water tanks in ensuring water security, particularly in remote and underserved areas like the Rupununi.

Last October, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali made a commitment to address water challenges in 58 Miles, Region Ten, by providing water tanks during the extended dry season. During his recent visit to the Rupununi over the Easter weekend, the President announced interventions, including the distribution of water tanks, to alleviate the issues exacerbated by the prolonged and severe dry weather. However, the distribution of these tanks must not be viewed solely as a reactive measure to address immediate water shortages; rather, it should be seen as a proactive intervention to tackle poverty and promote equitable access to essential resources.

Historically, especially during the hardships of the 1980s and 1990s when Guyanese grappled with disruptions to their potable water supply, often stemming from blackouts or low water pressure, these black water tanks emerged as a source of much needed relief from  having to fetch water long distances or in buckets from yard pipes.

Who can ever forget that era when in rural communities, Guyanese were forced to use carts to fetch water at the time as much as two miles from their homes. Who can forget that time when poor households were littered with buckets and every conceivable container in which water was filled to allow for daily and routine household chores and tasks such as washing dishes and clothes and taking baths. There are few Guyanese of the older generation, especially those who are poor, who did not have to wake up early to help fetch and collect water for their households, including to take their baths to go to school or work. Collecting water was major household activity in those difficult times.

That era underscored the vulnerability of local households relying solely on centralized water distribution systems. In response, individuals and households turned to water tanks as a reliable alternative. These tanks offered the dual advantage of collecting rainwater and storing water from the mains, providing a buffer against unreliable water services.

But Guyanese are ingenious people. In response to the water crisis, they took to storing water in plastic barrels and metal drums, expanding the storage of rain water collection and storage and then came up with the idea of investing in black water tanks to collect and store water. The distribution of water tanks should become national in scope and especially as a means to combat poverty. It is an unfortunate reality that many economically disadvantaged families lack access to reliable water sources, exacerbating their vulnerability to water-related crises. The government should avoid the wild-west distribution of water tanks. It should conduct comprehensive surveys in every community to identify households without water tanks.  This data-driven approach not only ensures targeted assistance but also facilitates the creation of a robust database for future interventions, and at the same time guards against abuse of the system.

The resources for this exercise should come from the monies that the government has set aside for cost-of-living relief. These monies would be better spent if they are diverted to poverty reduction efforts such as the distribution of water tanks to poor households. The distribution of water tanks holds immense potential as a poverty reduction strategy in Guyana. By addressing the fundamental need for clean water, these tanks empower households to pursue economic opportunities and improve their quality of life.  In communities where fetching water is a time-consuming chore, particularly for women and children, the presence of water tanks alleviates the burden of daily water collection. This newfound time and energy can be redirected towards education, income-generating activities, or other productive pursuits, thereby helping to breaking the cycle of poverty.

But there are also other benefits to the distribution of water tanks to the poor. Access to clean water is paramount for maintaining proper hygiene and preventing waterborne diseases. By providing households with water tanks, the risk of illness stemming from contaminated water sources is significantly reduced, leading to improved health outcomes and reduced healthcare expenditures. To prevent the exploitation of distribution efforts by the affluent – and many of them love to cash-in on government freeness –  measures must be implemented to safeguard against misuse. Water tanks should be marked to prevent resale, thereby ensuring that they serve their intended purpose within the identified households. Strict penalties should be enforced for any attempts at circumventing these regulations, deterring profiteering at the expense of vulnerable communities. The distribution of water tanks must therefore be seen as more than just a response to immediate water shortages. It can become part of government’s holistic approach to poverty alleviation – an approach which at present is woefully deficient.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

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• Poverty Reduction, Region, Rupununi, Security, Water Tank

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