15 School water purification systems commissioned in Reg.3

May 16, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – The Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Greater Guyana Initiative and Recover Guyana on Friday advanced Project FLOW the National Water Purification Sustainability Initiative, with the commissioning of 15 water purification systems at secondary schools in Region Three.

According to a release by Recover Guyana, over 9,000 beneficiaries, including students and teachers, will now be able to access safe and reliable purified drinking water across schools in the region. The commissioning of the water systems was held at the Tuschen Secondary School.

 

Recover Guyana explained that FLOW, the signature project of the Greater Guyana Initiative, represents a major national investment in education and environmental sustainability, focused on expanding access to clean drinking water, promoting reusable bottle use, and reducing environmental impact across school communities.

“Launched as a four-year national programme, the initiative aims to improve access to purified drinking water for more than 58,000 students across 141 public secondary schools, 10 TVET institutions, and four special needs schools by 2030, contributing directly to global sustainability priorities,” the release stated.

Delivering the featured address, Minister of Education, Sonia Parag lauded the project and noted, “This partnership is not only about development and shared benefits, but also about innovation and sustainability, all of which improve the quality of education. It aligns directly with the government’s vision to strengthen education and infrastructure while creating cleaner, safer environments and communities.”

Speaking also was project lead and president of Recover Guyana, Dr. Dave Lalltoo. He noted that Region Three accounts for 16 completed FLOW sites, including the West Demerara Secondary School pilot project, which demonstrated extensive measurable impact by saving more than 65,000 plastic bottles within just nine months-ultimately helping to pave the way for the national expansion of FLOW across Guyana.

He expressed “Through the partnership of Recover Guyana, the Greater Guyana Initiative, the Ministry of Education, communities, schools, technical experts, and countless hardworking individuals, Region Three now stands as a national example of sustainable development done correctly.”

Representing the Greater Guyana Initiative which is a 10-year, US$100M commitment by ExxonMobil Guyana, Hess, and CNOOC, President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge said at the ceremony that through this initiative, they are working to support projects that improve lives, strengthen communities, and create long-term value for Guyana. “The FLOW Water Purification Sustainability Initiative is a perfect example of what that commitment looks like in action,” he added.

Lauding the project also, was headteacher of Leguan Secondary School, Elizabeth Petrie who stated that prior to FLOW, the school was purchasing water for students. “Students are now able to stay hydrated throughout the school day, which contributes positively to their concentration, attendance, and overall well-being,” she noted.

Noting the impact of the project was Principal of Leonora Technical and Vocational Training Center, Mr. Mark Adams who highlighted the broader learning value of the intervention. He said “The introduction of a solar-powered system has created valuable learning opportunities for our electrical students, giving them hands-on experience with modern, renewable technologies. Our trainees will be actively involved in operating and maintaining the system, helping to build both their technical skills and sense of responsibility.”

According to Recover Guyana, in addition to improved access to clean water, the initiative is expected to deliver significant socio-economic and environmental value at both the school and community level, including projected savings of $87M within the region over a three-year period.

“Project FLOW advances a strong environmental sustainability agenda through integrated smart monitoring systems installed at each site. These systems track the number of plastic bottles saved daily, with data automatically uploaded to Recover Guyana’s digital platform, ensuring real-time accountability and measurement of environmental impact across schools. Through this mechanism, the initiative is projected to reduce the use of approximately 25 million plastic bottles by the end of the project, significantly reducing plastic pollution while promoting environmental stewardship and responsible consumption among students and communities,” the organisation explained.

Further, Recover Guyana mentioned that FLOW will continue to expand across other regions nationwide, with a target of reaching 155 educational institutions by 2029. It was announced that the project be launching in Region Six shortly.

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• FLOW, School water purification systems, Tuschen Secondary School, water purification

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