The project is expected to provide the citizens of Linden with a reliable, sufficient and affordable system of safe potable water, officials said.

The scheme will first address improvements for the Amelia's Ward and Blueberry Hill area while another phase will see the rehabilitation of the treatment plants at Wisroc, West Watooka and possibly Wismar and Mackenzie.

The Delegation of the European Commission here said the water project is in keeping with the European Union's policy of poverty reduction, set out in the Cotonou Agreement with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group, and the accessibility to potable water under the EU water initiative.

Under this initiative the EU wants to halve the number of persons worldwide currently living without potable water by 2015, it said.

The Linden water supply scheme is designated to provide about 31,000 residents with potable water. The project will allow for continuous supply of treated water to those living within the service area.

The existing treatment plants and water distribution systems in the township are old and in an advanced state of deterioration and inefficiency.

The main components to be financed under this programme are the replacement of the electro-mechanical equipment, immediate improvements in distribution to the Blueberry Hill area and the reconstruction of the Amelia's Ward Aerator.

At the ceremony for the signing of the memorandum of understanding at the Finance Ministry, Georgetown, Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Shaik Baksh told reporters it was a very important project in the upgrading of the country's water supply, considering the accessibility to water and its quality.

He noted that the EU has been active in funding for the completion of the Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara water project and the New Amsterdam water programme.

As a result New Amsterdam now benefits from a 24-hour water supply, he said.

The minister said that with the Rose Hall, Berbice project almost complete, his ministry was now looking at taking over that operation which supplies about 60,000 people with water and is also funded by the EU.

These efforts are bearing fruit and according to recent studies Guyana is ahead of many countries in the world in providing the population with access to potable water, he said.

The expectation for the population of Linden is very high and the funds will be used to restructure the dilapidated water infrastructure there, Baksh said.

He said that when GWI took over in October 2001 the facility was at a point of collapse and other areas in Linden will be targeted in the near future, including Mahdia and Kwakwani.

He said the Government was working with the donor agencies to fund those projects.

The memorandum of understanding for the Linden project is three-phased.

Phase 1:

To engage a contractor to undertake civil works to effect distribution improvements in the Blueberry Hill area and construct a new aerator at Amelia's Ward.

Phase 2:

To conduct a technical audit of the existing treatment plants and submit recommendations with respect to the procurement of essential electro-mechanical equipment.

Phase 3

To engage a sole supplier/contractor to procure and install the essential electro-mechanical equipment for the respective treatment plants at Wisroc, West Watooka and Amelia's Ward (and possibly Wismar and Mackenzie) water treatment plants.

Phases 1 and 2 will address short-term problems and the population of Linden will be the target of a future project.

Mr. Vincent DeVisscher, Ambassador/Head of the EC Delegation here, said he was happy at the signing of the agreement to improve the water system in Linden with the assistance of the EU.

He noted that the project will provide new equipment for a better potable water supply to residents of Linden and said he yesterday morning visited the town for a first hand look at the water facility there.

"I am pleased that GWI is taking responsibility to do the work in nine months, to better conditions of water supply in that area and to develop the water sector", he said.

However, he noted that existing plants in Linden are in bad shape and hoped that the new project would be maintained.