$468M Bartica Water Treatment Plant commissioned

Feb 22, 2026 News

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…Pres. Ali wants all consumed water to be locally produced in 12 months

(Kaieteur News) – President Irfaan Ali on Saturday commissioned the $468 million water treatment plant at Five Miles, Bartica, Region Seven while mandating that all locally consumed water must be produced locally in 12 months.

The treatment plant, which is funded by the Government of Guyana’s Public Sector Investment Programme (GOG-PSIP), to support the development of housing schemes is set to serve 6000 residents from Four to Seven Miles, and is designed to treat surface water abstracted from a stream at Five Miles.

The plant was constructed by Toshiba Water Solutions America Inc. through the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI).

In delivering the feature address, President Ali stated that water is an economic commodity and that there are many studies that point to the global recession of water in decades to come.

The Head-of-State said the country now has to work with the integrated water resource management system principles to develop an optimization plan of the total water asset, and how that asset can be deployed to optimize value.

“You can’t be such a resource rich country in fresh water and be importing bottled water,” President Ali declared while noting that the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation must work with the private sector to ensure that the water consumed locally is produced here and at a reduced cost.

“This ministry must therefore set aside on a target of ensuring that all our water consumed locally is produced locally in the next 12 months. Whether we have to collaborate and we must collaborate with the private sector to ensure that they build up their capacity and capability. Every entity don’t need to have a bottle blower. We can have one entity to produce all of the plastic bottle at standard size across the country, so that we have economies of scale. So, we have to look at all the verticals and to see how we can have economies of scale at every level so that we can bring down the cost of water,” he explained.

President Ali said that officials at the GWI have assured him that they can economically bottle water, selling it for $100 or less.

“What we have to do is work with the private sector to see how we can actualize this, so that a country that is known as the land of many waters can have the cheapest water available to its people, and that is what we have to do,” he said.

The President also stated that looking ahead to 2030, their plan is not only focused on delivery of water, but on the economic value of water. Noting that water is essential to every sector in the country, he called on the ministry to work towards implementing a strategy as to how they are going to modernize the system.

Meanwhile, President Ali commended those who worked on completing the water treatment plant noting that clean water is not a luxury, it is life.

“When clean water flows 24 hours a day, hope comes with it.
When a community no longer worries about the safety of its supply, when a community no longer worries about the safety of its supply, it can focus on growth, education and opportunity. Water is the first building block of development, because without water, nothing else works,” he stated.

GWI’s Chief Executive Officer, Shaik Baksh who stated that the Five Miles Bartica Water Treatment Plant is the result of over two years of dedicated technical research and investment to overcome geological challenges.

He disclosed that the facility utilises automated surface water treatment technology, ensuring 24-hour service and international standards for residents in Four Miles, Five Miles, and Seven Miles.

The plant is the seventh largest treatment plant commissioned under the Coastal Water Treatment Infrastructure Programme, and stands as a reflection of the government’s broader commitment to expanding treated water coverage, he noted.

Kaieteur News understands that the first phase of the Coastal Water Treatment Infrastructure Programme (CWTIP) has completed seven new large water treatment plants, fifteen small water treatment plants, upgraded twelve existing plants, and installed 200 KM of transmission mains to improve water quality, continuity of service, and level of service in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

The second phase of the CWTIP has started, with the construction of 7 new water treatment plants in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

These include new water treatment plants at Maria’s Delight in Region 2, Wakenaam and Leguan Water Treatment Plants in Region 3; Hope Water Treatment Plant in Region 4; Bath Water Treatment Plant in Region 5; Adventure Water Treatment Plant in Region 6, and the Five Miles Bartica Water Treatment Plant in Region 7.

Meanwhile, Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar said that the Bartica Water Treatment Plant project is the first of its kind in the area and serves as a blueprint for a national strategy to modernise Guyana’s utility infrastructure.

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• Bartica, GWI, Toshiba Water Solutions America Inc., Water Treatment Plant

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